Judas Priest predict the future (hint: world tour!)

Heavy metal legends Judas Priest are preparing a world tour in support of their upcoming two-CD set Nostradamus. The sprawling, epic concept album recounts the life of the mysterious 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. Of course, with Rob Halford on the microphone and with twin guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis, you can expect the song cycle to rock with the power and majesty that fans have come to expect from Judas Priest.

Nostradamus will be released as a two-CD set in a regular jewel case, as a special collector's "deluxe" version housed in a 48-page hardbound book, and for the fanatical among you (yeah, I want one too!), as a super-deluxe box set with a triple-vinyl version of the album, the two-CD version, and an expanded booklet and a poster. Expect all of this heavy metal goodness to hit your green grocer's shelf on June 17, 2008 in the United States, a day earlier for lucky fans in the UK and Europe. Can't wait? Check out a streaming mp3 of the album's title track by pointing your little browser to the Live Nation website.

In other Judas Priest news, the band will be teaming with fellow metal legends Motorhead and Testament, along with Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio) for what they're calling "The Metal Masters Tour." This one promises to be a real scorched-earth affair, so be sure to grab your tickets ASAP! Tour dates, of course, are listed below....

(Click on the CD cover to buy Nostradamus from Amazon.com)

The Metal Masters Tour

06-Aug-08 @ Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden NJ
07-Aug-08 @ Nissan Pavilion, Bristow VA
09-Aug-08 @ PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel NJ
10-Aug-08 @ Nikon at Jones Beach, Wantagh NY
13-Aug-08 @ Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto ON
16-Aug-08 @ Post Gazette Pavilion, Pittsburgh PA
18-Aug-08 @ DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit MI
19-Aug-08 @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Chicago IL
22-Aug-08 @ Superpages.com Amphitheatre, Dallas TX
23-Aug-08 @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston TX
24-Aug-08 @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, San Antonio TX
27-Aug-08 @ Journal Pavilion, Albuquerque NM
28-Aug-08 @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion, Phoenix AZ
30-Aug-08 @ Glen Helen Pavilion, San Bernardino CA
31-Aug-08 @ Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View CA