Shadowland
Century Media Records
The genre known as power metal has been around for many a year, but it's really exploded in the last five. Europe is literally a breeding ground for the countless number of bands claiming to be the new leaders in the power metal race for supremacy.
However, there are some that have forsaken that race and instead simply release consistent albums time and time again. One such band is Sweden's Nocturnal Rites. Their origins date back to when the power metal scene was in its infancy, when they were leaning more towards death metal, and have slowly progressed with each successive album. Now with their newly released fifth under their arms, they can once again show some of these new upstarts a thing or two.
Extensive touring has sharpened the band since 2000's Afterlife, and it's evident from the opening anthem 'Eyes Of The Dead'. Producer Daniel Berstrand (Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad, Stuck Mojo) seems to have given the band a punchier sound this time around too. Elsewhere, the title track 'Shadowland' is one of the albums defining moments with its epic build ups, while 'Vengeance' and 'Revelation' are flat out speed work outs. Vocalist Jonny Lindkvist seems to put in a more aggressive effort on tracks like 'Faceless God' and the album closer 'The Watcher'.
In the end, if power metal is your thing, you have quite a few choices out there. For a guaranteed winner, you can't go past Nocturnal Rites to deliver the goods and staying true to their metal roots.
For more information on Nocturnal Rites, check out - https://www.facebook.com/nocturnalritesofficial.
© Justin Donnelly.
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