JUDAS PRIEST CITES NOSTRADAMUS FOR FUTURE

Judas Priest will release Nostradamus in June, and they’ll support the double CD collection with a big Metal package tour.

Judas Priest has revealed details of a new studio concept album, Nostradamus, to be released in June. The album will be supported with a tour with Heaven & Hell, Motorhead, and Testament. The album is a double disc set based around the eerie predictions of the future by Nostradamus, the French scholar, who first published his works in the 16th century. The release will hit stores June 16 in Europe and June 17 in the U.S.

The album might be the band’s most ambitious musically, but mostly lyrically. Guitarist K.K. Downing said that while some of their work was groundbreaking in the ’80s, because of the range of subjects and emotions covered by music, in 2008 it has become much more challenging.

“There seemed to be so many ideas that hadn’t been used up then because, well, they hadn’t been used up. It was maybe somewhat easier to compose songs then. Now a lot of work has to go in to maintain some kind of originality.”

Judas Priest’s tour with Heaven & Hell, Motorhead, and Testament start Wednesday August 6 in Camden, New Jersey (just outside of Philadelphia), and wraps up August 31 in Mountain View, California. As has been the style of Judas Priest, collectors will undoubtedly be interested in hunting down a copy of a Deluxe Double CD of Nostradamus housed in a 48 page hardbound book package. A Super Deluxe Box-set version will also be available with triple vinyl, the double CD, an expanded booklet and a poster.