Artist: Nocturnal Rites
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 9/17/02
|
|
Title: Shadowland Artist: Nocturnal Rites Label: Century Media Release Date: 9/17/02 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
3 | ||
|
4 | ||
|
4 | ||
|
|
Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
It feels like ages since I've listened to any decent power metal, so I'm happy to be listening to the new Nocturnal Rites. Shadowland, their latest effort, doesn't change the basic formula one bit, and delivers exactly what one would expect, traditionally bouncy, melodic songs that seem silly and cool at the same time.
"Nocturnal Rites continue their tradition of trying to make every song an anthem, but like all of their albums, they have their hits and misses." Nocturnal Rites continue their tradition of trying to make every song an anthem, but like all of their albums, they have their hits and misses. "Faceless God," "Shadowland," and "Eyes of the Dead" are my early favorites, as they utilize this band's knack for melody most effectively. The only true throwaway on the album, however, is "Birth of Chaos" which seems to completely miss the mark. The remainder of the songs are harmless enough, and will be enjoyed assuming the listener is in the right mood.
This album sits right along side of Hammerfall and Blind Guardian, none of which seem to want to take a chance by changing up their formula. And that is the most frustrating thing about this album (and the previous ones as well). Despite the fact that the melodies and songwriting show off their talent, it almost seems like every album is programmed by a computer. It's just so formulaic that it gets a little frustrating. I know there is always a catch-22 when it comes to experimenting with an accomplished sound, but I do feel that at least one of these bands need to change things up a little and take a chance.
"Longtime fans will not be disappointed, but this won't necessarily be their favorite album either." But let's face it, if they just stick with what there doing, it's not the end of the world. I genuinely like this album. Lindqvist's vocals are outstanding and the bounce of the guitar is weighted by an underlying power. Longtime fans will not be disappointed, but this won't necessarily be their favorite album either. Every metal fan with an interest in power metal should be happy to throw this one in every once in awhile. One word review: Expected.
Death's Review:
There's something about Nocturnal Rites singer Jonny Lindkvist's voice. It is a much bluesier/raspier style than I am used to hearing from the kind of European (OK, they're from Sweden--that's Europe, right?) power metal I usually like, and it is probably because of that fact that I pretty much wanted to disregard this album right out of the box. But the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me. At first, it was the tight riffing, cool guitar tone and the very cool drumming propelling tracks like opener "In the Eyes of the Dead" that kept me listening. Yet over time, something happened, about the third or fourth listen I noticed the fucking intensity and passion buried in tracks like "Underworld," "Vengeance" and "Faceless God" (bonus: the three appear right in a row on the album!). Those tracks started to get under my skin. I played "Underworld" over a couple of times and started to sing along. Before I knew it, something began happening: it dawned on me that Lindkvist is a fucking awesome singer. He has a killer set of pipes (listen to the power of the "killing me!" part right about the 2:00 mark of "Underworld" to see what I mean), and really brings a serious heft to the proceedings here. Sure, his "style" is not to my usual taste, but there's no denying that his is a powerful and ultimately worthwhile voice. So I stand corrected.
"Before I knew it, something began happening: it dawned on me that Lindkvist is a fucking awesome singer."
Now I need to go back and listen to the previous Nocturnal Rites album, Afterlife, which I gave 3 skulls to back in September of 2000, to see if my perspective has changed. There are definitely still moments of mediocrity here, in my opinion, where all the talent and musicianship the band has at its disposal are deployed in pursuit of songs and riffs that just seem to go nowhere in a way that only European power metal can. But I do like this stuff overall, quite a bit actually, and look forward to seeing the band live. Until then, give this one a chance. Like me, you just might be pleasantly surprised.
"I do like this stuff overall, quite a bit actually, and look forward to seeing the band live."
Hel's Review:
How about some good, old fashioned, European power metal? Nocturnal Rites have provided us, once again with just that. Shadowland is not a radical departure, nor is it a useless rehash. It walks the line between the two, a quality release with classic sensibilities.
"Fortunately, Nocturnal Rites is not of the breed of Euro power metal that evokes images of beer steins swinging to and fro - I really can't stand that uselessly happy vein of music." The subject matter is the realm of the fantastic, just as it should be. Fortunately, Nocturnal Rites is not of the breed of Euro power metal that evokes images of beer steins swinging to and fro - I really can't stand that uselessly happy vein of music. Rather, the point of view portrayed is optimistically survivalist, but with dark overtones of conflict and challenge.
"At the end of the day, I find I enjoy it more than I would many other albums of similar ilk." Much of the enjoyment to be derived from this record is in the story it tells, as much as in the music it is told through. If you take the vehicle through which this story is told, simply for its pure musical merit, it is a formidable machine indeed. The musicianship is of the finest quality, and the masterful way in which it is mated to the story it tells is nearly unmatched.
At the end of the day, I find I enjoy it more than I would many other albums of similar ilk. Power metal has not really been at the top of my list of favorite metal genres for some time now, and more often than not, I find this kind of music irritating at best. So this record comes as a welcome change - a power metal album that has a story as interesting as the music is good.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.