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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Nocturnal Rites - Phoenix (Jap. Ed.)- (KICP-1860) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Sep-25-2017 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2017 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.nocturnalrites.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Nocturnal Rites Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Phoenix (Jap. Ed.)- (KICP-1860)abel : King ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ A good decade ago, Swedish melodic power metal ║ │
│║ band Nocturnal Rites released the eighth album ║ │
│║ of their career, æThe 8th SinÆ. It received ║ │
│║ generally very positive reviews and I certainly ║ │
│║ enjoyed the content. What I didnÆt realise then ║ │
│║ was that this would be the last we heard from ║ │
│║ the quintet for ten long years. Then again, IÆm ║ │
│║ not entirely sure that the band themselves ║ │
│║ thought this would be the case either. In 2008, ║ │
│║ long-time guitarist Nils Norberg left to be ║ │
│║ replaced by Christoffer R÷rland who in turn ║ │
│║ later left to join Sabaton. But even then, we ║ │
│║ are led to believe that a follow-up album was to ║ │
│║ be recorded in 2011. Needless to say, that this ║ │
│║ didnÆt happen and so fans have been left waiting ║ │
│║ and wondering for what feels like an eternity. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ All that history is exactly that though: ║ │
│║ history. ItÆs in the past and it is time to ║ │
│║ focus on the here and now. On that score, things ║ │
│║ are looking very rosy indeed because not only ║ │
│║ have Nocturnal Rites returned, but they have ║ │
│║ delivered an album, the aptly-titled æPhoenixÆ, ║ │
│║ thatÆs better than I had ever dared to hope for. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It is like the band never went away. The core of ║ │
│║ vocalist Jonny Lindqvist, guitarist Fredrik ║ │
│║ Mannberg, bassist Nils Eriksson and drummer Owe ║ │
│║ Lingvall remain in place, recently joined by ║ │
│║ Scar Symmetry guitarist extraordinaire Per ║ │
│║ Nilsson to round things out. As a huge fan of ║ │
│║ Scar Symmetry and the impeccable guitar playing ║ │
│║ of Nilsson, I was even more excited about ║ │
│║ æPhoenixÆ than I would have otherwise been. And ║ │
│║ they have put together a truly brilliant heavy ║ │
│║ metal album. If youÆre looking for inspiration ║ │
│║ on how to create the perfect blend of melodic ║ │
│║ metal, power metal and classic heavy metal, then ║ │
│║ look no further than æPhoenixÆ. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ok, so æPhoenixÆ might not be perfect, but it is ║ │
│║ damn close. For example, IÆm struggling to pick ║ │
│║ out any of the songs as being a weak link or a ║ │
│║ dip in the quality, such is the consistently ║ │
│║ high standard that runs like a golden thread ║ │
│║ through this record. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Everything a died-in-the-wool heavy metal fan ║ │
│║ could possibly want is right here. ThereÆs no ║ │
│║ wasted time, no wasted notes; the whole album ║ │
│║ feels well-honed and well oiled, like a machine. ║ │
│║ But donÆt let that fool you into thinking that ║ │
│║ the music on æPhoenixÆ is devoid of humanity or ║ │
│║ lacking in heart. Quite the opposite in fact. ║ │
│║ And if your blood doesnÆt start pumping a little ║ │
│║ faster as you listen, you may as well give up on ║ │
│║ listening to heavy metal entirely. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ What you get on æPhoenixÆ is wall-to-wall riffs, ║ │
│║ gigantic rhythms, huge melodic choruses that ║ │
│║ frequently veer into anthemic territory, blazing ║ │
│║ solos and powerful vocals that are dripping with ║ │
│║ heart and passion. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ That word æpassionÆ is important because, ║ │
│║ although I talk about this being a honed, well- ║ │
│║ oiled album, the passion with which the material ║ │
│║ is delivered is apparent in every department. ║ │
│║ æPhoenixÆ, as the name suggests, has the feel ║ │
│║ and atmosphere of a band that has been reborn ║ │
│║ and as a result, are loving every minute. I can ║ │
│║ imagine the guys grinning ear to ear in the ║ │
│║ rehearsal room and studio as the music came to ║ │
│║ life. And quite justifiably too. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ At this juncture, I feel compelled to return to ║ │
│║ an aspect of æPhoenixÆ that I find so wonderful, ║ │
│║ and thatÆs the lead guitar solos. IÆm a sucker ║ │
│║ for a good lead break but over the years they ║ │
│║ have generally become less fashionable. But ║ │
│║ fashion be damned, Nocturnal Rites demonstrate ║ │
│║ without question, just how irresistible a good ║ │
│║ six-string shred can sound and why heavy metal ║ │
│║ should never abandon this most glorious of ║ │
│║ excesses. This is hardly surprising though if ║ │
│║ IÆm honest. This was always a significant weapon ║ │
│║ in the Nocturnal Rites armoury but now, with ║ │
│║ Nilsson delivering many of the leads, they are a ║ │
│║ thing of utter joy and exuberance, both ║ │
│║ melodically charged and technically adept. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It is a challenge reviewing albums like this ║ │
│║ because it is always tricky choosing which songs ║ │
│║ to highlight for special praise. Each of the ║ │
│║ eleven tracks has something about it which is ║ │
│║ deserving of mention but that would make for a ║ │
│║ lengthy review. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Nevertheless I feel compelled to begin with the ║ │
│║ opening cut, æHeart As Black As CoalÆ. The ║ │
│║ opening riff grabs you by the scruff of the neck ║ │
│║ with its no-nonsense attitude and itÆs not long ║ │
│║ before the first gigantic chorus of the record ║ │
│║ hits with style and panache. The production is ║ │
│║ great, offering clarity to all instruments ║ │
│║ whilst providing the guitars with an exceptional ║ │
│║ strength. The tone of the track is dark and ║ │
│║ menacing, accentuated by the aggressive and ║ │
│║ forceful delivery of Lindqvist but itÆs ║ │
│║ ultimately an enormous heavy metal anthem that ║ │
│║ fills my heart with unbridled joy. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æBefore We Waste AwayÆ ensures that æPhoenixÆ ║ │
│║ maintains the best possible start. The mid-tempo ║ │
│║ stomp underpinned by Lingvall and Eriksson is ║ │
│║ irresistible, especially when it leads into such ║ │
│║ an edifying chorus; hook-laden and sublime. It ║ │
│║ also features a mind-boggling lead guitar solo ║ │
│║ that veers nicely into Scar Symmetry territory ║ │
│║ before being dragged back into the monstrous ║ │
│║ chorus. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ By way of contrast, æThe Poisonous SeedÆ is a ║ │
│║ harder, faster and darker beast all round. ║ │
│║ Double-pedal drumming dovetails with yet more ║ │
│║ crunchy, uncompromising riffing whilst thereÆs a ║ │
│║ more pronounced use of dramatic keys just behind ║ │
│║ the metallic tumult. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ One of my favourites, a little surprisingly, has ║ │
│║ to be the slightly more ballad-like æRepent My ║ │
│║ SinsÆ. I love the slower, writhing riff and the ║ │
│║ way that it works excellently in tandem with one ║ │
│║ of my favourite choruses on æPhoenixÆ. Again the ║ │
│║ tone of the composition and the lyrics is ║ │
│║ relatively dark, with Lindqvist offering a ║ │
│║ mesmeric performance, but I canÆt help but ║ │
│║ smiling as I listen because everything is just ║ │
│║ so on-point and insanely enjoyable. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Another stand-out track is æThe Ghost Inside MeÆ ║ │
│║ which is as dramatic and symphonic as IÆve heard ║ │
│║ from Nocturnal Rites. At its heart, it is still ║ │
│║ a monstrous metal song but thanks to the ║ │
│║ inclusion of choir vocals and a marked increase ║ │
│║ in orchestration, it stands out in grandiose ║ │
│║ style, full of pomp and theatrics. Then thereÆs ║ │
│║ the instantly more modern-sounding æNothing Can ║ │
│║ Break MeÆ with its bold electronic effects and ║ │
│║ even more impactful chorus. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ With any band that returns after such a long ║ │
│║ hiatus, the anticipation is always going to be ║ │
│║ huge. But crucially, Nocturnal Rites have not ║ │
│║ just lived up to my expectations, they have ║ │
│║ smashed them out of the park. It is a dangerous ║ │
│║ thig to say with over three months of 2017 left, ║ │
│║ but I am struggling to believe that anyone else ║ │
│║ will release a better melodic power metal album ║ │
│║ this year. æPhoenixÆ is huge and it deserves ║ │
│║ your attention immediately. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Jonny Lindqvist - Vocals ║ │
│║ Fredrik Mannberg - Guitars ║ │
│║ Owe Lingvall - Drums ║ │
│║ Per Nilsson - Guitars ║ │
│║ Nils Eriksson - Bass ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - A Heart As Black As Coal [04:21] │
│ 02 - Before We Waste Away [04:46] │
│ 03 - The Poisonous Seed [04:30] │
│ 04 - Repent My Sins [03:52] │
│ 05 - What┤s Killing Me [04:19] │
│ 06 - A Song For You [03:50] │
│ 07 - The Ghsot Inside Me [05:34] │
│ 08 - Nothing Can Break Me [04:22] │
│ 09 - Flames [04:08] │
│ 10 - Used To Be God (Bonus Track) [03:18] │
│ 11 - Welcome To The End [04:05] │
│ 12 - Before I Go (Exclusive Bonus Track) [02:57] │
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│ Total Length : [50:02 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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