LONDON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- British heavy metal band Judas Priest is hoping the third time's a charm -- at least when it comes to the Grammy Awards.
The veteran quintet is nominated twice for songs from its 2008 rock opera "Nostradamus" -- Best Metal Performance for the title track and Best Hard Rock performance for "Visions."
The group has been nominated for Grammys twice before but has yet to win.
"It's an absolute thrill and an honor," says singer Rob Halford. "The fact that we have two nominations rather than just one is a complete surprise, and it'll hopefully improve the odds. But just having the nominations is a tremendous honor and a real buzz for the band and the metal community."
The Grammy Awards ceremony takes place Sunday in Los Angeles and will be broadcast by CBS.
Judas Priest has just started a European tour in support of "Nostradamus" and plans to return to North America for another tour this year. Halford says the group is considering a full-scale "Nostradamus" stage show and doesn't rule out a film adaptation.
