One of the worlds most popular and influential Heavy Metal bands – Judas Priest are set to rock the UK to it’s very core when they bring their ‘Priest Feast’ tour to play 7 arena dates in February 2009 with support from special guests – Thrash Metal veterans Megadeth and Testament.

Since 1974, Judas Priest has been one of heavy metal’s most successful bands, issuing such all-time classic albums as 1980’s ‘British Steel,’ 1982’s ‘Screaming for Vengeance,’ and 1990’s ‘Painkiller,’ and such arena-rocking anthems as “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.” However, Priest’s influence goes far beyond their music – they were the first metal band to embrace the ‘leather biker look,’ a fashion that has since become synonymous with the musical genre. Additionally, Halford’s powerful four-and-a-half octave vocal range and the twin guitar harmonies of Downing and Tipton have been ‘studied’ by countless metal bands in Priest’s wake.

Think ‘Double vinyl, gatefold sleeve concept album,’ and some of rock’s all-time classic recordings come to mind. But in the realm of heavy metal, there has never been a double vinyl (now disc!) concept album that has managed to balance a thought-provoking storyline with metallic thunder. That was, until now. Metal legends JUDAS PRIEST released their sprawling double disc concept album, ‘Nostradamus’ via Columbia Records on Monday, June 16th in the UK/Europe, and a day later in the US on Epic Records.

MEGADETH

As one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands of all time, Megadeth have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including six consecutive platinum albums, with seven consecutive Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance. Megadeth has remained a vital element in continuing to define and redefine the sound and the fury of metal music and with each new album, forges new ground and stretches the very boundaries where metal lives.

TESTAMENT

Testament was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980′s. Undoubtedly, they are the inventors of the thrash-metal wheel. Testament’s powerful sound, influence, and longevity make them one of the Top 5 All-Time Legendary Thrash Metal Bands, putting them in the company of Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, and Anthrax. They re-formed with the original line up (vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson & Alex Skolnick, and bassist Greg Christian – along with friend and former member, Paul Bostaph) to record their 9th studio album – their first in nearly a decade entitled ‘Formation of Damnation’ (released April this year) which also won them ‘Best Album’ at the Metal Hammer ‘Golden Gods’ Awards this summer.

Having the opportunity to see 3 such important and influential bands within the world of Metal on the same bill is cause for excitement. Make sure you don’t miss the chance to witness Metal history in the making and ensure you are part of Priest Feast 2009.

‘PRIEST FEAST’

JUDAS PRIEST

With Special Guests Megadeth and Testament

February

Friday 13 Sheffield Arena
Saturday 14 Birmingham LG Arena
Monday 16 Glasgow SECC Hall 4
Tuesday 17 Manchester Arena
Wednesday 18 Nottingham Arena
Friday 20 Cardiff Arena
Saturday 21 Wembley Arena

Chat about Judas Priest here!

Corporate line:
Long in the works, “Nostradamus” takes epic storytelling to a whole new level, as it recounts the life of this mysterious, world-known 16th Century French prophet. Some of the events that Nostradamus experts have interpreted as his predictions include the great fire of London in 1666, the rise of Adolf Hitler, and most recently, 9-11, among countless other renowned events.

“As in any concept piece, the lifeline needs to be of a solid source, taking the music over many levels of interest and perception,” points out singer Rob Halford. “Nostradamus’ contains new frontiers explored and defined. The sense of adventure and the journey we undertook bringing the man’s life alive with metal was a real labour of love.”

As with all new Priest releases, the group – singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis – will embark on a mammoth worldwide tour in support of “Nostradamus.” Priest will be performing at the 2008 Download Festival – on a bill also featuring Kiss – which will serve as a ‘homecoming’ of sorts for the group, as they performed at the first-ever ‘Monsters of Rock Festival’ at Donington Park in 1980.

Most bands of this high stature would be happy to play it safe. But not Judas Priest, who continue to take chances and break new ground. No other rock band could have pulled off such a grand statement, and Judas Priest have raised the bar once more with “Nostradamus.”

As to why they chose to make a concept album about Nostradamus, Tipton explains: “We didn’t – he chose us. We feel it was meant to be!”

The hits:
Nothing. Zip.

The rest:
“Nostradamus” – There are a few interesting moments during the verses but then the chorus comes in straight out of Spinal Tap.
“Prophecy” – “I am Nostradamus/ and I conceive.” Good grief. The lyrics are piss poor.
“Awakening” – The verses are mind-numbing. This can’t be serious, right?
“The Four Horsemen” – Judas Priest brings in an orchestra to help prop up disaster and that doesn’t work no matter who or what is playing when the verses and chorus are shit.

Frankly:
Is the world ready for a metal comeback? Lets just say Judas Priest won’t be the ones who inspire it. “Nostradamus” is a mess. Judas Priest wanted a concept album instead they got an album fit for Spinal Tap. Judas Priest taking on a concept album sounds like a first grader trying to take on calculus. The only good thing you can say is that it sounds like Rob Halford can still sing and the band can still play, but they aren’t writing great songs.

Interview with Rob Halford:

The legendary heavy metal heroes Testament have won the Metal Hammer GOLDEN GODS AWARD for Album of the Year for The Formation of Damnation. Testament beat out the other worthy contenders in this category: Atreyu, Bullet For My Valentine, Children Of Bodom and Down. All hail Heavy Metal Forever!

The Formation of Damnation debuted at #59 on the Billboard Top 200 and has sold nearly 33,000 copies since its April 29 release. The Formation of Damnation is Testament’s highest charting release in their 24-year history. The album also dominated at radio holding the #1 spot on both CMJ and FMQB for several consecutive weeks.

Testament will be on the Metal Masters Tour all summer long with Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell and Motorhead.

Testament with Judas Priest:

7/22 – Seattle, WA – Wamu Theater

7/23 – Victoria, British Columbia, Canada – Save On Foods Memorial

7/24 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – General Motors Place

7/26 – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – McMahon Stadium –Monsters of Rock

7/27 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Shaw Conference Centre

7/29 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada – Credit Union Centre

7/30 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – MTS Centre

7/31 – Minneapolis, MN – Epic (headlining)

Testament with Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, and Motorhead:

8/01 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom (headlining)

8/03 – Montreal, Quebec – L’Olympia De Montreal Theatre (headlining)

8/04 – Quebec City, Quebec – Theater Imperial (headlining)

8/06 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center

8/07 – Bristow, VA – Nissan Pavilion

8/08 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance (headlining)

8/09 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

8/10 – Wantagh, NY – Jones Beach Amphitheater

8/12 – Buffalo, NY – Erie County Fair (headlining)

8/13 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Molson Amphitheatre

8/14 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium

8/15 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Casino

8/16 – Burgettstown, PA – Post Gazette Pavilion

8/17 – Huntington, WV – Monkey Bar (headlining)

8/18 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Center

8/19 – Chicago, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheater

8/20 – St Louis, MO – Pageant Theatre

8/21 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom (headlining)

8/22 – Dallas, TX – Superpages.com Center

8/23 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Pavilion

8/24 – San Antonio, TX – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

8/25 – El Paso, TX – Club 101

8/26 – Farmington, NM – Gators

8/27 – Albuquerque, NM – Journal Pavilion

8/28 – Phoenix, AZ – The Cricket Pavilion

8/29 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto

8/30 – Devore, CA – Glen Helen Pavilion

8/31 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater