Ahhh....DF...you used the word that had eluded me....RISK. And what heavy metal band could pull off a risk any better than Judas Priest!? Praise you for conjuring it...for that is exactly the factor that Judas Priest have utilized (however intentional or not) when it came to making ANY album that now graces their repertoire.
I remember vividly...the very banter that was tossed about back in 1986 when Priest released "Turbo." It's interesting to see just how many fans who couldn't stand the album upon first listen that now have a more relenting attitude and a better scope of understanding of what the album was trying to do all these years later. That's not to say there aren't still a contingent of fans that wish Priest never released "Turbo," but that RISK....that almighty leap of faith to take a step OFF the beaten path and try something new...something DIFFERENT...THAT my friends is the true mark of ANY artist...I don't care what art they create. Is it all still subject to personal opinion? Of course...and Judas Priest (like any other artist before them) have taken their share of "lumps" with an incredible degree of grace...forging ahead, consequences be damned; a factor (among a myriad others) of the very admiration and respect and devotion I still have to this band!! They exhibited and STILL deliver the very kind of art I myself can only DREAM about....through them (vicariously or not), I see and hear that which I could not bring forth.
GOD, I can't wait 'til I can buy "Nostradamus" for myself!!!
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Deep Freeze from Monday, June 23, 2008 5:31:56 PM)| |  | Deep Freeze wrote: | | Ah Justin! As usual, well thought out and well written. Very well done, my friend. I have mentioned the very same thing in previous posts. I was not expecting Painkiller II or British Steel Redux and so I am not the least bit disappointed.
This album is a departure. It was meant as such from the beginning and it succeeds. I cannot really recall a "concept" album that was not at least somewhat different from a band's usual effort. Sure, The Wall is clearly Pink Floyd and Operation Mindcrime is classic Queensryche, but Nostradamus was never going to be a typical Priest endeavor. Apart from the obvious attention to detail that one would expect from Judas Priest, this album takes the Band in a new direction. It is not the least bit "Spinal Tap", as has been suggested. It is a work of complex nature and a huge risk.
The fact is, I would have been very upset with a Screaming for Vegeance sequel. I truly expected something very different and that is what I got. Honestly, I expected grief from some as well. It is not surprising. One of the many reasons I love this Band is that they have guts. They are incredibly talented and I believe they could pull off just about anything, musically. This album is a winner for me. I do not even need all the fancy packaging and booklets and whatnot. It stands on its own and that works for me quite nicely, thank you.
| | | Justin Kenny wrote: | | Well....speaking as one who has heard all of 3 tracks thus far from "NOSTRADAMUS," what I'm about to address here is really a response (and albeit, an impartial one) to some of the negative criticisms I've stumbled across between here and the HALFORD QUORUM.
I've been abundantly aware of the fact that Judas Priest are the type of band that strives to do something different with each and every new output of music they create. The only two albums they've made that share any real similarities (in a back-to-back sense) are "Screaming For Vengeance" and "Defenders Of The Faith." Even for having said that, the production of both albums are even different, and the latter album seems more ethereal somehow; "Rock Hard, Ride Free," and "The Sentinel" seem to have a different resonance and atmosphere.
There's no question about it folks....when presented with the idea of making a conceptualized piece about a REAL individual (won't find any cybernetic mythology ala "Painkiller," et; al), the undertaking had to have been massive in scope. Much has been written and exposed about Nostradamus' life and his works, and Judas Priest clearly had it in mind to pay homage to his LIFE and the very tragic undertones that he'd experienced. Some have argued that a conceptual album about some of the quatrains of his most celebrated and infamous of prophecies would've been more appropo....I'm prone to disagree with this. Judas Priest took the right path in telling about this man's life and times....his pains and his woes....from the time he was aware he had this 'gift,' to being exiled from France to avoid any further charges of heresy...the loss of his wife and child....I mean, talk about a challenging life!
When confronted with the issue that Priest dropped the ball musically/lyrically (as I've seen discussed at times)...I sometimes think that some of those who've stated such things really didn't think this effort through upon listening to it. Nostradamus, after all...lived in the 16th century. Metal music (quite obviously) didn't exist way back when...and in terms of tackling the issues of his life, Priest were clearly sensitive to what they learned, and thought long and hard as to how to convey those emotions both musically and lyrically. Whether or not you think the lyrics contained on "NOSTRADAMUS" are indicative of the genius exhibited on albums like "Sin After Sin" or "Stained Class" is frankly....irrelevant. This is clearly an album meant to be FELT....EXPERIENCED....as well as heard. Thematically, after all...we are dealing with the story of a real man!! Is it any wonder then that even Priest themselves have encouraged us to give this effort a FEW listens?? It surely WASN'T because they question the judgment of having gone through with this effort...nor is it because they doubt whether or not what they created was any good (yes...these summations have been brooded about by some fans...ffs), 'cuz let's face facts....if they had any problem with the final outcome...it STILL wouldn't have been released.
Sure it's different....it's SUPPOSED to be. I for one would never have found Judas Priest to be as consistently interesting as I've known them to be for the last 28 years if all they did was "British Steel" or "Screaming For Vengeance" over and over and over and over and over and over again!!! There are emotions and sweeping cross-sections of a man's psyche that's being talked about on this effort. Consider this much before making any real determined judgment.
Edited at: Monday, June 23, 2008 12:07:00 PM |
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