• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Let me get this off my chest right off the bat: the 'legend' of Nostradamus is TOTAL BULLSHIT! Yes, the man existed, yes he wrote some alleged prophecies. But every interpretation of his work that has him predicting major world events has come after the fact. If he's such a great prophet, why can't he predict stuff BEFORE it happens? No, no, only in hindsight can his mistranslated poems be twisted around to 'predict' anything. It is complete and utter nonsense, all of it. Now that doesn't make it unfit as fodder for fiction, but I find it hard to believe that JP would write an enormous album about this fucker if they did not in some way believe this bullshit, which is just sad.

Anyway, this is a huge album, and the major complaint I have is that it is too huge. This could easily have been cut down to a 9 or 11 track album and been much tighter and more enjoyable. As it is, this is a chore. Sitting through all the crap to get to the good stuff would not be such a drag if the good stuff was really kickass, but even the better tunes like "War" or "Death" are not all that great. This album is almost two frigging hours long, and there is not one song on here even as good as "Deal With The Devil". Remember "Loch Ness" off the last disc, that was supposed to be epic but was really just long for no reason? This album is like that ethic taken to a whole album. I also want to mention that the guitar sound stinks, and is extremely weak. If this album were heavier, it might sound better.

I do give JP props for trying something new and not just sticking to the old formula. And I'm not saying this kind of music cannot be done well. But here, it's not done all that well. Nostradamus has some good moments, but mostly it's just kind of bland. And long. Did I mention it's too long? Way too long.