Ahhh....now were are talking, this maybe my favorite Nocturnal Rites album. I
wanted to wait a bit to write the review and be sure, but I really think it is. They sound rather inspired on this release
as the last two, Shadowland and New World Messiah, while having some moments, never sustained any ooomph
over the entire disc. This one does.
The songs are full, in that I mean, that there is always something interesting going
on...not a lot of dead, unused space. A keyboards to fill or create atmosphere in the background....nice guitar
leads and well placed, sonically pleasing fills. It could be from all the guests on the album that increase the listening
experience, but whatever...as long as it sounds good.
List of guests:
Henrik Kjellberg
Leif Grabbe
Ronny Hemlin (Steel
Attack)
L-G Peterson (The Storyteller)
Jens Carlsson (Persuader /SC)
Jens Johannson (Strat)
Henrik Danhage (Evergrey)
Nils
Norberg (Persuader/SC)
Stefan Elmgren (Hammerfall)
Kristofer Olivius (Naglfar)
Vocally, love em or hate em mid range slight scratchy vocals that haven't changed in
four albums, only seem more inspired than before...not since Afterlife really has he sounded like he cared so much.
There are also some growls in Cuts Like a Knife from the guy in Naglfar and it sounds awesome in the song.
It sounds like Nocturnal Rites have finally made an album strong from start to finish
with nothing weak in between.
Favorites: Cuts Like a Knife, Fools Never Die, Deliverance, Still Alive, Something
Undefined
90 / 100
