NOCTURNAL RITES „“Grand Illusion””

Music: Power Metal
Website: www.nocturnalrites.com
www.centurymedia.de
Good songs: EVERYTHING!!! But secret tip: Cuts like a knife!
Duration : 10 songs
Contact: Nils.e@nocturnalrites.com

In the year of 2005 the Swedish power metalheads in NOCTURNAL RITES celebrate their 10th anniversary. For the party the two albums „In a time of blood and fire“ (exhausted debut album of 1995) and „Tales of mystery and imagination“ (from the year 1998) were released in a double CD called „Lost in time – The early years of Nocturnal Rites“ including interesting bonus tracks for example the acoustic title song „In a time of blood and fire“, furthermore with the in the year 2000 joined singer Jonny Lindqvist, who substitues their former singer Anders Zackrisson with his powerful voice. But that is not enough. This year NOCTURNAL RITES killed as a headliner in their hometown Umeĺ, together with an orchestra of 55 guys and girls on 2 evenings in sold out venues. The name of the event was „Demons of the Opera“ and I for myself had the pleasure being a part of that experience that the Swedish televion broadcasted.
2004, after the quintet toured Europe together with Brainstorm and Edguy, now the time for the follower to „New world messiah“ has come. The name of the new opus is very promising called „Grand Illusion“! On September 19, this masterpiece of great songs will be released in shape of an album. 10 excellent songs blow away the listeners´ minds! The guys again shot a videoclip (like they did for the former album, too), directed by their drummer Owe Lingvall who established himself as an upcoming video producer: „Fools never die“, clever posted and very interesting. This song at the same time is the opener of the CD and can convince while listening to it for the first time. This is melody No. 1 that you can (and want!) not exile from your ears. Tight guitar riffs and the melodies come to life by the powerful vocals of Lindqvist! Sing-along compatible melodies do not only go in your ear with THIS song!
Lively and modern, „Grand Illusion“ lets you bang your head. Typically NOCTURNAL RITES-like sounds also with the song called „Never trust“: choirs and massive riffs duel with guitar solos of Nils Norberg that are underlined by the bouncing doublebass attacks of Owe Lingvall. By doing that song, the Swedes got aid from HAMMERFALL´s Stefan Elmgren, who gave „Never trust“ a special mark. Melody No. 2 that won´t leave your mind.
The probably darkest song, Nils Eriksson and the guitar duet Nils Norberg/Fredrik Mannberg have ever written is „Cuts like a knife“. Kristoffer W. Olivius (front grunter in the Swedish black metal band NAGLFAR) rocks us with his aggressive voice and gives us together with Jonny Lindqvist a bloodcurdling creep. Through its „Hey, hey“ calls this song is going to give us a blast when you hear it live!

This jewel of an album is sublimated by a lot of guest musicians. Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS) lets his keyboard glow, Henrik Danhage (EVERGREY) splashes a fantastic guitar solo. Also a special guest can be welcome with Per Elofsson. The Swedish world champion of cross-country skiing (three times worldcup gold) lets the guitar strings vibrate.
The refreshing voice of Jonny Lindqvist is powerful and expressive like never before. He demonstrates it also with „Still alive“ that furthermore breeds neckbreaking riffs as well as „Something undefined“. A little progressive step is made by NOCTURNAL RITES with „Our wasted days“, you will be encouraged to sing along anyway. Increased you can find more keyboards than on the parent albums that the epic songs introduce and support well (for example „End of our rope“, „Never ending“ and „One by one“). A further highlight (if you can speak of „highlights“ for that album, because each single song is just ingenious) and at the same time the conclusion of the CD, you can listen to „Deliverance“.

„Grand Illusion“ was recorded and mixed at Toontrack Studio Umeĺ, where the band lives and a place where they´ve worked many times before. Once again there are no lacks of production and arrangements.
They have never sounded that versatile and diversified before. The NOCTURNAL RITES sound in the year 2005 is as fresh as 10 years ago. Stylistically and lyrically they improved the songwriting. Where in former times „dragons“ were slain by the„sword of steel“ and render homage to the “king“, NOCTURNAL RITES in the meantime look into modern subjects.

On „Grand Illusion“ you cannot only find 10 power metal songs of best quality, no, a bonus DVD with three videoclips („Awakening“, „Against the world“ and „Avalon“, all off album „New world messiah“), the brandnew „Fools never die“ videoclip, a making of „Grand Illusion“, as well as extra shot video material of the „Demons of the Opera“ shows.
Totally seen, the 5 longhaired guys produced a masterpiece that completes the row of „Shadowland“ and „New world messiah“.
An absolute must for every power and melodic metal fan! The holy day will be September 19, 2005.
NOCTURNAL RITES are often to find on tour. And they´ve been on tour with a lot of different bands like NEVERMORE, IRON SAVIOR, OVERKILL, ANGEL DUST, HAMMERFALL, EDGUY or LABYRINTH. And also at festivals the Swedish quintet is a well known guest: Dynamo, Schweden Rock, Wacken Open Air or also Gates of Metal were played in the ground by the guys.
And once again NOCTURNAL RITES will be on the road. Before the release of the new album the band will be played 3 gigs as support for NIGHTWISH. Afterwards they will be going on a 4 week tour with POWERWOLF and GAMMA RAY.
Tanja

Discography:
In a time of blood and fire – 1995
Tales of mystery and imagination – 1998
The sacred talisman – 1999
Afterlife – 2000
Shadowland – 2002
New world messiah – 2004
Lost in time – 2005 (Re-Release of the first two albums + bonus tracks)
Grand illusion – 2005

Nocturnal Rites Fanclub
c/o Tanja Hansen
Neuhauser Str. 39/1
78532 Tuttlingen/GERMANY
nocturnalritesfc@aol.com

note: 10/10 (!!!)

Tracklist

1. Fools never die – 3:54
2. Never trust – 4:43
3. Still alive – 4:02
4. Something undefined – 4:08
5. Our wasted days – 5:17
6. Cuts like a knife – 5:10
7. End of our rope – 5:26
8. Never ending – 4:29
9. One by one – 4:23
10. Deliverance – 5:00

Line-up

Fredrik Mannberg – rhythm guitar
Nils Eriksson – bass guitar
Nils Norberg – lead guitar
Jonny Lindqvist – vocals
Owe Lingvall – Drums