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October 12, 2008 |
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01. New World Messiah
02. Against The World
03. Avalon
04. Awakening
05. Egyptica
06. Break Away
07. End Of Days
08. The Flame Will Never Die
09. One Nation
10. Nightmare
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Europe keeps dishing out some of the best metal releases of 2004, and Sweden's very own NOCTURNAL RITES are well on their way to having their name engraved into this year's wall of metal triumphs. After nearly a decade on the scene, the very talented quintet have created yet another very impressive offering of their own brand of melodic power metal with the release of their latest album, "New World Messiah". Hailing from the far north, in Umea, Sweden, (which also happens to be the origin of some other Swedish greats such as NAGLFAR and MESHUGGAH), the band returned to their hometown to record the follow-up to 2002's "Shadowland". The result is something to be heard and will surely to appeal to fans of BLIND GUARDIAN, HELLOWEEN and KAMELOT.
Filled with an array of stunning harmonies, vein-striking axe shredding, and destructive double kick power, "New World Messiah" captivates the listener with little or no effort. It usually takes me at least two or three run-throughs of a CD before I can form my opinion, but this one caught my attention almost immediately. Quite simply, this album is a magnificent specimen of this genre, brilliantly executed by the very capable Swedes. The opening title track "New World Messiah" starts out with a slow melodic guitar intro before exploding into a relentless attack of power metal speed. The definite progression of Jonny Lindkvist's vocals can be heard instantly on this one. I thought he sounded great on the band's last album, "Shadowland", but wait until you hear him now! Another display of Lindkvist's impressive vocal range can be heard in the very melodic hymn, "Against The World", which blends in perfectly with the rest of the music.
Getting back to some speed, songs like "Avalon", "Awakening" and "Break Away" are branded with more furious killer double-kick beatings, blistering guitar riffage and killer solos! The same can be said about "Nightmare" - intense, fast, and aggressive, this song contains all the essential ingredients of a pure power metal piece, and is unquestionably one of the album's best. The glorious "The Flame Will Never Die" is a slower-paced anthem with a harder edge in some parts, but maintains a steady melody throughout. I really liked the chorus in this one as well. One of my favorite songs on the CD is the very epic-styled "Egyptica", which lives up to its title quite appropriately. The amazing guitar work by Nils Norberg and Fredrick Mannberg give this song a "middle-eastern" feel to it and the vocals make it that much better.
As for the sound quality found on the album, what can I say? It was mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studio in Helsinki, Finland, by T.T. Oksala, so that says it all. You can hear all of the instruments and vocals clearly and the mix was very well done. With the exception of maybe one, there is not a weak track on this disc. The band's songwriting ability is solid and their performance here is virtually flawless. The material is phenomenal, and must be experienced first-hand in order to truly appreciate its mastery. The CD features some bonus studio and live footage, as well as the "Eyes Of The Dead" video clip.
If you like fast, epic-style power metal with melodic influence, "New World Messiah" will be a welcomed addition to your collection of metal. If you have not yet heard NOCTURNAL RITES, I suggest you get busy. You won't be sorry.
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