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Band Name: Nocturnal Rites
Album Name: The 8th Sin
Rating: 3.5 / 5 User Rating: 3.8 / 5
Label: Century Media
Buy Album: Amazon.com
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Tracklist
1. Call Out to the World
2. Never Again
3. Not the Only
4. Tell Me
5. Not Like You
6. Leave Me Alone
7. Till I Come Alive
8. Strong Enough
9. Me
10. Pain and Pleasure
11. Fools Parade (Outro)
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Evolution has been a hallmark of the career of Nocturnal Rites. Long gone are the death metal sounds from the group's primitive days – and now, NR has all-but-abandoned its power/speed metal hybrid, which rose to a crescendo on their 2004 effort, “New World Messiah.”
The follow-up to that record, the more stripped-down “Grand Illusion” provided a foretelling glimpse of what the band would become in the here and now. Still, that particular record was just a bridge to the future. Tracks like “Cuts Like A Knife” touched on the band's extreme beginnings. Even though you could sense the band wanted to move in a more commercial direction on tracks like “Fools Never Die” and “Still Alive,” Nocturnal Rites had not yet made the commitment to be a true commercial rock act.
“The 8th Sin” changes all of that. Big hooks abound on this record, and those who appreciated the group's heavier days will be shocked to hear just how commercial tracks like “Call Out To The World” and “Leave Me Alone” really are. Edgy guitar tone and drum flurries courtesy of Owe Lingvall aside, much of the music on this record could pass as being written by Night Ranger or Whitesnake.
“Strong Enough” is a good example of the way this group takes things forward in a familiar rock format. With an introduction that's completely different from anything else you'll uncover on this record, NR shows that classic anthems can be updated to suit modern tastes. Presence of finger-flaming solos ignites the band's refocused vision; you just don't hear many scorching leads like this these days. The emphasis brought to this particular track relays an irresistible energy.
Production-wise, there's a really full sound here. With the band serving as decider for knob-twisting and co-producer Shep along for the ride, everything is well-rounded, punchy and quite powerful. Nocturnal Rites' music is even stronger as a result, with a nice low-end thump driving the Foreigner -like “Not The Only,” where frontman Jonny Lindqvist does his very best Lou Gramm impression.
“Tell Me” offers the best opportunity to be a breakthrough for the group. There's plenty of beef behind the track's driving rock beat and Lindqvist's soaring presence on the song's chorus harkens back to the strongest David Coverdale material. Much as the music of Whitesnake had a certain broad appeal, this track marries up melody and might in an entirely palatable way. “Not Like You” and “Till I Come Alive” come from the same sort of the approach, though the latter is slower-paced and once again, incorporates modern metal sounds that we're not used to hearing in this sort of music.
When a band undertakes this sort of rock format, a ballad is obligatory. Lindqvist, accompanied by Richard Frohm on piano, shines on the introspective “Me.” Carolina Miskovsky turns in a great female vocal performance as both she and Lindqvist harmonize together perfectly here. This is simply a beautiful, heartfelt song.
Many older fans of the band will cry afoul of the tendency of Nocturnal Rites to drift into more commercial waters, but this doesn't change the fact that this is a very strong showing from a group with the experience to back up their albums in concert. In the final analysis, the hefty performance and valient songwriting displayed on “The 8th Sin” will land the band even more new fans, if for no other reason than this is a style of music that's easier to relate to and digest than most. With other front and center new releases (like the latest from Dream Theater) expanding the appetite of listeners, this record fits right into the prototypical heavy rock scene of today.
Review by: EF
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