NOCTURNAL RITES “Tales Of Mystery And Imagination” /Ltd. LP/

First re-release of the second full-length studio album by cult Swedish Power Metal band.
Nocturnal Rites are something of an amazing band -- amazing in the sense that they couldn't care less that it's no longer the early '80s. "Tales Of Mystery And Imagination" recalls the tightly riffed, classically tinged twin-guitar interplay of bands like Helloween and especially Iron Maiden, in the sci-fi/fantasy lyrics as well as the music.
It's a carefully crafted effort that will appeal strongly to fans who, like Nocturnal Rites, still love this particular style of Metal regardless of trends.
Century Media Records/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 1997/2021 (JRR-BB017Cd). Made in Italy.


Tracklist:
1. Ring of Steel 06:42
2. Dark Secret 05:04
3. Test of Time 05:01
4. Lost in Time 03:01
5. The Vision 04:21
6. Warrior's Return 04:43
7. Change the World 03:46
8. Pentagram 03:48
9. Eye of the Demon 04:42
10. End of the World 03:24
11. The Curse 04:03
12. Burn in Hell 03:38
Total playing time: 52:13 min.

The second re-release of the third full-length studio album by cult Swedish Power Metal band.
Nocturnal Rites play Italian-style Power Metal. They showed progress with each release, and continue to get better. This was their last album with singer Anders Zackrisson, and a peak of sorts in their early history before the noticeable stylistic change on "Afterlife".
What we have here is light and tuneful Euro Power Metal in the vein of Angra, Gamma Ray, or even early Rhapsody. There is very little in the way of keyboards on the album, so there are no Symphonic arpeggios to snooze through. This is old-fashioned guitar driven Power Metal with good clear vocals.
This is not terribly heavy, or innovative. But there are some really good songs on here. "Destiny Calls" is firmly in the happy-Metal camp with a great chorus you can’t help but sing along with. "The Iron Force" has a great main riff, and "Ride On" is another happy headbanger. "When Fire Comes to Ice" is very cheesy, but you’ll be singing along. "Glorious" is another hook laden song that closes out the album. There are some clinkers here too, though. "Free at Last" is too slow and poppy, "Hold on to the Flame" is even sillier, with lyrics that verge on the sickening, they’re so happy. "The Legend Lives On" is a slow ballad, meant to be epic, but insufferably indulgent. And there are too many tracks like "Eternity Holds", "The King’s Command", and "Unholy Powers" that sound alike and go on too long. That said, this is a fun album, if you like this sort of Helloween stuff. If you are a fan of Power Metal, this album won’t disappoint.
This is another great release that demands the attention of fans of older 80s Metal fans and newer Power Metal fans alike. This is more great, fun, and catchy Power Metal!
Re-edition contains the Bonus Track "The Journey Through Time", previously available on the Japanese edition only. 
Century Media Records/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 1997/2021 (JRR-BB018Cd). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany.


Tracklist:
1. Destiny Calls 3:58
2. The Iron Force 4:20
3. Ride On 3:16
4. Free At Last 3:50
5. Hold On To The Flame 4:08
6. Eternity Holds 4:00
7. When Fire Comes To Ice 3:49
8. The Legend Lives On 5:47
9. The King's Command 3:25
10. Unholy Powers (Night Of The Witch) 3:12
11. Glorious 3:24
12. The Journey Through Time 3:46
Total playing time: 46:55 min.


https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/

The first re-release of the debut full-length studio album by cult Swedish Power Metal band.
Nocturnal Rites was born in Umea in 1990 as a Death Metal act that were trying to find their integrity in the Underground scene. However, by the time Nocturnal Rites had released their first demo in 1991, everyone was playing this brand of Metal to protest the new direction that Thrash was going. So soon after, Fredrik Mannberg realized that instead of being a member of an over-large group of Death Metal bands, it would be a better choice to do something that no one had been doing significantly for years, play Melodic Power Metal in the NWOBHM style.
"In A Time Of Blood And Fire" is historic for many reasons. It came out in 1995 when Metal was almost dead; bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica or any other 80s band or Thrash Metal band were going through their toughest times. Since the old gods weren’t able to keep their style bands like Nocturnal Rites were inspired to give the style of Metal, that had been rejected for quite a while as old fashioned, a rebirth. The mix of Metal that Helloween did on their "Keeper..." albums, mixed with the best of the NWOBHM genre and you get that very thing that defines good Heavy Metal.
For anyone that read about this album in a fanzine and bought it back in 1995 will probably remember how breathtaking it was. The songs themselves are very straight-forward in their structure, and function as a rather indicant combination of the speed and flash of Judas Priest, the melodic lines and interludes of Iron Maiden, and take no prisoners lyrical content of Manowar, and the energetic spirit of Motörhead. There are keyboards on here, but they are used pretty much for atmospheric effects and are not overly prominent. The only flaw in this album is that the production is slightly sub-par, but the strength of the songs almost makes this a non-issue.
There are no bad songs on this album but it still went unnoticed at the time of its release and it would take another two years before Hammerfall released their first album before this kind of music was becoming popular again. Nocturnal Rites were among the first and they would continue to grow both music wise and in popularity when they hooked up with guitarist Norberg and singer Lindqvist. Now more than 10 years after its release and with a Power Metal genre that is just full of bands just copying each other it still feels that this is the album that started it all and it has what most other generic Power Metal albums lack nowadays. This is classic Metal done the right way and it still gives us goosebumps. This is a Power Metal album that will have a lot of appeal to fans of traditional 80s Metal, particularly NWOBHM.
Century Media Records/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 1995/2021 (JRR-BB008Cd). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany.


Tracklist:
1. Sword Of Steel 3:21
2. Skyline Flame 5:30
3. Black Death 4:08
4. In A Time Of Blood And Fire 5:01
5. Dawnspell 5:38
6. Lay Of Ennui 5:02
7. Winds Of Death 4:17
8. Rest In Peace 3:37
9. Dragonisle 6:53
Total playing time: 43:27 min.


https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/