10 Most Ambitious Rock Albums Ever Made
6. Nostradamus - Judas Priest
Whenever a heavier act wants to take themselves a little more seriously, all roads point to the concept album. For as much as people like the individual song structures, there's an air of importance that comes with having a track list that tells a story rather than being a collection of songs. It's one of the most daring tricks in the metal playbook, which makes it even more strange when titans Judas Priest decided to try it in the late '00s.
On paper, this kind of retelling of the story of controversial astrologer Nostradamus seems perfect for the Priest mold. With the man's history being questioned and his predictions sparking fear and hatred in his contemporaries, he pretty much checks every box for a heavy metal outlaw. However, there's a difference between a great concept and the actual execution.
Running at over an hour and a half, this entire record feels bloated, with the album being padded with some of the worst filler Priest has ever made. This album probably would have been amazing if it were a single album, but the more atmospheric sections leave the record feeling toothless rather than show-stopping. It's admirable for a band like Priest to aim higher in their old age, but this record is much more lackluster than any metal fan was prepared for.