It began with Ian Parry's Consortium Project, then Ayreon's dual disc Universal Sequencer/Migrator and most recently Avantasia's Metal Opera, artists working on solo albums that become elaborate, star-studded platters. In the case of Bulgarian born guitarist Nikolo Kotzev, who was introduced to the world through Baltimoore and Brazen Abbot, the two disc Nostradamus is a luminary-filled, three act rock opera, recounting the life and premonitions of the famed 15th century French cleric/seer. Unlike the aforementioned efforts, Kotzev, who also handles violin, aligned himself with guest vocalists, including former Brazen Abbot alumni Joe Lynn Turner and Glenn Hughes, while the female roles are handled by a decidedly non-metallic pair, Alannah Myles and Sass Jordan. Actually, the women have very little airtime and are always in concert with one of the male voices. Myles appears with Turner on 'Try To Live Again' and the finale 'I'll Remember You'. Jordan only gets 'Because Of You', alongside the ubiquitous Turner and Jorn Lande. A 35-piece symphonic orchestra plays everything the rock musicians can't. WARNING: In the days when Queensryche and Savatage constitute people's idea of "rock opera," Nostradamus is bound to be somewhat disappointing and even boring. More traditional opera than rock, with a decidedly '70s flare, think classical music employing a few rock techniques. When it works, the music has a Kansas vibe. The hyperbolic lyrical collection, painstakingly depicted in a 40 page CD booklet, is closer to easy listening, or as they call it these days, "lite rock." 'Caught Up In A Rush', one of the heavier songs, feels like a vintage Deep Purple track, heavy on the Hammond-style organ and gospel backing singers. Hughes' singing doesn't hurt the comparison either. In an unintended humorous moment, can anyone listen to the line in 'Plague' which says "Bring out your dead" without envisioning Monty Python? A lively 'The King Will Die' is the first opportunity Kotzev has to show his guitar prowess. Disc #2 contains only eight selections, as opposed to the initial one, 13 tracks spanning an hour. Although shorter, the material on the second disc is heavier and more energetic, since it deals with themes like war and the end of the world. Surprisingly, the orchestra is heard more prominently on these songs, particularly the pair of tracks dedicated to World War. Ambitious in scope, I doubt how fulfilling most hard rockers/metalheads, who this project is initially marketed towards, will find it.