Nocturnal Rites Bio

With a barrage of bombastic melodies, a ferocious double-bass assault and mind-blowing dual-guitar shredding, the Swedish quintet NOCTURNAL RITES has effectively marked its triumphant return. With one listen it is easy to hear this versatile group pay homage to such genre titans as Iron Maiden and Blind Guardian in their songwriting style. What sets the band apart from the pack is their aggressive and stunning harmonies. Together almost a decade, they have toured with the likes of Nevermore, Iron Savior, Overkill, Saxon and Hammerfall while also appearing at some of the biggest metal festivals in Europe (Dynamo, Wacken Open Air and Sweden Rock). Above all, the talented musicians blend experience with outstanding song writing skills into a fresh shot of overwhelming traditional metal intensity.
At the end of 1990 guitarist Fredrik Mannberg and drummer Tommy Eriksson recruited bassist Nils Eriksson and formed NOCTURNAL RITES. Together they found themselves drifting away from mainstream death metal, and toward a melodic and harmonic sound. Around this time Eriksson left the band and was replaced by Ulf Andersson, and second guitarist Mikael Söderström. Through 1993, NOCTURNAL RITES continued writing material strongly influenced by traditional heavy metal, making a natural transition in sound and style. At years end, the band realized that Mannberg's vocals didn't quite fit the innovated sound. Herein they recruited a melodic, talented and experienced vocalist Anders Zackrisson (ex-Gotham City). Even though 93's recording didn't represent the band's desired sound, they felt the songs had potential and the demo was sent out to various labels. The tape caught Swedish label Dark Age's attention (owned by Therion's Christoger Johnsson). At the end of 1994 NOCTURNAL RITES worked out its deal and soon In a Time of Blood and Fire was licensed to Megarock Records. Critically a big success but poorly distributed and promoted, it never reached its full potential.
With a new guitarist Nils Norberg and a new deal with Century Media locked down in 1998; a whole new era began unfolding. The group's second full-length album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, was soon released worldwide. After touring Europe in support of the album, the band came back with a newfound confidence to write and record its third offering, the critically acclaimed The Sacred Talisman (1999). This album showed a more mature and able side of the band, and also premiered new drummer, Owe Lingvall. When all touring duties were complete, the band and Zackrisson felt they had grown apart. A replacement was immediately found in local singer Jonny Lindkvist, a multi-talented and experienced vocalist whose voice sounded nothing like his predecessors. This inevitably broadened the band's horizons as songwriters and on Afterlife (2000) NOCTURNAL RITES ended up showing a vibrant side. The fans and media welcomed Lindkvist with open arms and the band proved it had come to be an even stronger live force with its new frontman. Additionally it was Shadowland (2002) where Lindkvist realized his true potential; this stunning release quickly exposed the band to a new audience.
New World Messiah, the band's sixth album, was recorded in their hometown of Umea, Sweden. Umea is a well-known hotbed for high quality bands: Meshuggah, Naglfar and Refused each have earned a reputation as a leader of their own genre respectively. Mixing and mastering was accomplished outside of Sweden at Finnvox Studio in Helsinki, Finland with T.T. Oksala (Tiamat, Apocalyptica) behind the board. This album shows that NOCTURNAL RITES is just now hitting their stride and absolutely refuses to have their music pinned down into one limiting category. From the blistering opening title track, to unrelenting "Against The World," catchy double bass attack on "Awakening," and the majestetic hymn "The Flame Will Never Die," this album proves to be full of soon-to-be classic metal anthems. This is not just an album; it's the New World Messiah, be prepared!