Grand Illusion: a powerful, operatic sonata of the night.
In a day and age when scream-scene metal is becoming vastly dominant within the metal industry, almost to the point of suffocating it altogether, it is often difficult to recall what real metal is all about. Epic and almost operatic vocals that rise like a towering inferno of flames, thundering riffs and driving guitar solos that resonate unrivalled beauty and force, bass lines that guide and define the sheer grace and elegance of the music and drums that steadily storm away in the background, the sheer driving force behind the music itself. Frame these epic qualities with atmospheric keyboards and you have perfection in metal, a recipe for a definitive sound. In a world where the very essence of hair swinging, powerful and emotive metal is slowly being consumed by bland hardcore, it is easy to forget the influential place that symphonic power metal has within metal music. Nevertheless, that influence is still there, slowly burning away under the thick ashes of the rest of the music scene. All it takes is the right kind of band to reignite the flames and send the sheer beauty of the sound of metal in it's true essence into towering flames, blinding and evanescent.
Enter the aged and legendary Nocturnal Rites. Ten years prowling the scene and creating epic and operatic symphonies has proven exactly where they stand on the scene and their return to active work has been revered and painstakingly awaited. One listen to their forceful and orchestral style brings to the surface their immense experience and skill. Perfectly defined and romantic, the almost operatic quality of Jonny Lindqvist's vocals seems to rage like lightning across a darkened sky, extremely powerful and hopelessly beautiful while strangely demanding. The sheer expertise in the execution of their composition is enough to make you fall head over heels for their music and totally let go. Also, Nocturnal Rites take vast opportunities to collaborate with revered musicians from equally as impressive bands such as Jens Johansson (Stratovarius - keys) and Hendrik Dahage (Evergrey - guitars) to guest in some of their songs, giving their style a sense of reinvigorated life that burns brighter than ever and really enlightens the very essence of the music. This latest offering is, quite certainly, the best album Nocturnal Rites have created in many years!
The album starts with what is, quite simply, the best example of clever and modern metal songwriting that has ever existed, 'Fools Never Die'. With an introduction riff that heavily resembles that of In Flames' 'Only For The Weak', it thunders in with sheer confidence and a mood that cuts through the skin and infects the mind. Soon the sheer force of Jonny's operatic and resonating voice threatens to blow you away like the very onslaught of a hurricane and suddenly you are thrown into a beautifully executed, dark, epic and strangely addictive chorus, of which the scale of sound is unmeasured and uncontrolled, wild and untamed. This example of genius in composition then runs straight into the fantastic 'Never trust', an incredibly fuelled track that embodies all of what is typically Nocturnal Rites and so much more; with huge choruses, towering riffs and riveting, driving guitar solos that simply resonate pure unchartered and blinding emotion. Fast paced and adrenaline filled, driven steadily along by amazing collaboration between gothic keyboards and pounding, overdriven bass, 'Never Trust' is a real power metal anthem, a real example of sheer perfection in metal.
Perhaps the most surprising track on the album is 'Cuts Like A Knife', most certainly it is the darkest song the band has ever written, but oh how atmospheric and beautiful it is. Drawing in influence from the same modes and scales used to create the Egyptian sounding mood used in much of the music created by Iced Earth, this song combines sheer mood with an epic voice that blends the best from Dio to Jon Bon Jovi, a truly epic and unique voice bursting at the seams with volume. Dangerously challenging guitar riffs that chant a strangely hypnotic trance and vocal growling effects that compliment a beautifully venomous bass line complete the track to create a truly beautiful and morbid sound that cuts, quite simply, like a knife. Perhaps it is the sheer unique sound that really makes this track stand out, because it is so different from the rest of the music they write. These qualities alone make this song undoubtedly the best track on the album.
To describe in detail the sheer brilliance of each and every track on this latest release would take longer than is sanely possible to endure reading, so it is very much recommended that you take the time to purchase this stunning record and take a trip down the path of real metal, where the passion of music still resonates and where the line between reality and the other realm dwells. In a world of bland, over done and quite frankly boring 'scream-scene' hardcore, isn't it time something happened that really comes along and brings that much needed reinvigoration and refreshment? One listen to this album will fulfil those needs, satisfaction guaranteed, no illusions.