Nocturnal Rites
Shadowland

June 2002
Released: 2002, Century Media
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Jonny, Fredrik, Nils, Owe, Nils, and Mattias once again show how power metal is to be played, especially when compared with other Swedish bands that try to play power metal.



This time the band has gone to Uppsala and worked with Daniel Bergstrand and his studio, Dug-Out Studios. Bergstrand has worked with bands like Meshuggah and Stuck Mojo. He has done a great job with the production and has brought down the hardness from the Nocturnal's previous record, "Afterlife," to a more power metal style on this record.



Jonny impresses me a lot with both high and low tones in his songs. Fredrik/Nils on guitar are also very clever, especially on the solos. Jonny does good back-up vocals in every song. This is the real sound of power metal. Everybody in the band has great skill.



Nocturnal Rites are very technical, and they change rhythm in every song. They have strong songs and the record "Shadowland" deserves attention. Nocturnal Rites defeats all its power metal collegues in Sweden. This is how I think power metal should be played!



For more info about the band: http://www.nocturnal-rites.com