NOCTURNAL RITES · In a Time of Blood and Fire (Re-Release) | CLEAR LP

Clear vinyl in standard cover.

Background information about ''

Cast your mind back to 1995 — the Swedish metal scene was already a force to be reckoned with, but something special was brewing up north in Umeå. Enter Nocturnal Rites with their monumental debut "In a Time of Blood and Fire", a record that didn't just knock on the door of the power metal kingdom — it kicked it straight off its hinges. This is where it all began for one of Scandinavia's most enduring melodic metal institutions, and hearing it now, freshly reissued, is like unearthing a buried treasure that still gleams with every ounce of its original fire.

What hits you first is the sheer hunger in these songs. From the galloping opener "Sword of Steel" to the epic sweep of "Dragonisle", there's an urgency here that can't be faked. The twin-guitar attack is razor-sharp, the rhythm section drives everything forward like a warhorse charging into battle, and the vocals — my god, the vocals — soar with that unmistakable blend of grit and grandeur that would become the band's signature. The title track alone is worth the price of admission: six minutes of pure, unadulterated power metal majesty that shifts through moods and tempos with the confidence of a band twice their age. And let's not forget "Dawnspell", a track that practically invented the template for the kind of anthemic, fist-pumping metal that would dominate the European scene for years to come.

This isn't just a history lesson, though. "In a Time of Blood and Fire" stands on its own as a thrilling, vital listen that hasn't aged a day. The melodies are timeless, the riffs are infectious, and the atmosphere conjures images of mist-shrouded castles and ancient battles fought under blood-red skies. Back on Black have done the Lord's work bringing this back to vinyl, and the clear pressing is a gorgeous touch that lets the music speak for itself.

For fans of:
Stratovarius, Helloween, HammerFall, Edguy

Other Versions

CD · 14,99 €

Track listing

A1. Sword of Steel
A2. Skyline Flame
A3. Black Death
A4. In a Time of Blood and Fire
A5. Dawnspell
B6. Lay of Ennui
B7. Winds of Death
B8. Rest in Peace
B9. Dragonisle

Manufacturer: 375 Media GmbH, Schlachthofstraße 36A, 21079 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: www.backonblack.com