The Bottom Line
The Swedish power/melodic metal band brings aboard several guest musicians on their latest release, and the result is a very diverse and very good album.
Pros
- Guest musicians add a lot of different twists.
- Excellent vocals from Jonny Lindqvist.
- Great guitar riffs and solos.
Cons
- None.
Description
- Released January 24, 2006 on Century Media Records.
- Recorded at Toontrack Studio in Umea, Sweden.
- Guest musicians include guitarist Stefan Elmgren of Hammerfall.
- Keyboardist Jens Johansson of Stratovarious also is a guest musician.
- Another guest musician is guitarist Henrick Danhage from Evergrey.
Guide Review - Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
I'm going out on a limb here, but I predict this will be the only album released in 2006 that features a guest appearance by a world champion Swedish cross country skier. Per Elofsson is one of several guest musicians that appear on Nocturnal Rites' latest album.
One of the more interesting guests is Naglfar vocalist Kristoffer W. Olivius, who adds his death metal rasp to the power metal vocals of Jonny Lindqvist on the song "Cuts Like A Knife." The combination of vocals and the soaring power metal guitars really sound good and adds a bit of menace.
Noctural Rites' music is a little harder than the usual power metal band, incorporating some traditional and thrash influences. One of the things that makes them stand out is the terrific dual guitar sound of Nils Norberg and Fredrik Mannberg. Lindqvist has also come into his own as a vocalist, singing with power and range without being over the top.
