On their eighth album Swedish power metal veterans Nocturnal Rites turn down the power and turn up the melody. The 8th Sin is still a power metal album, but the band is also drifting into melodic metal territory.
This is an album with giant choruses and hooks piled upon hooks, but all the edges have been polished off. There are some high points and a couple of standout songs, but for the most part Nocturnal Rites' power metal majesty has been traded for forgettable watered down pop/rock with techno beats.
The one constant is Jonny Lindqvist. His vocals are always good. Whether he's singing a soft ballad or belting out the high notes he's spot on in pitch and emotion. Unfortunately he alone cannot save this album from mediocrity.
