NOCTURNAL RITES · Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Re-Release) | CD

Compact Disc in jewel case.

Background information about ''

If you missed this one back in '97, consider this your official wake-up call. Nocturnal Rites' second album Tales of Mystery and Imagination is one of those rare records that somehow slipped through the cracks while the metal world was busy chasing nu-metal down a blind alley. The Swedish quintet had the guts to go full-on classic heavy metal when it was deeply unfashionable, and listening to this now, you realise just how right they were. Twin-guitar harmonies that wouldn't feel out of place on a Maiden record, galloping rhythms that recall the glory days of German speed metal, and a sense of melody that is just ridiculously infectious from start to finish.

Opener "Ring of Steel" sets the tone immediately — charging riffs, soaring vocals, and that unmistakable European power metal swagger. But what makes Tales of Mystery and Imagination special is the darker, more mystical undercurrent running through tracks like "Pentagram" and "The Curse." There's a genuine sense of atmosphere here that elevates it above standard genre fare. The rhythm section is locked tight, the solos are fiery without descending into wankery, and Anders Zackrisson's vocals have this commanding, almost theatrical quality that sells every lyrical twist and turn. Back on Black have done the metal community a serious service by bringing this back into print. Whether you're a diehard power metal devotee or just someone who appreciates heavy metal played with conviction and heart, this reissue demands your attention.

For fans of:
Stratovarius, Helloween, HammerFall, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray

Other Versions

RED 2LP · 25,99 €

Track listing

1. Ring of Steel
2. Dark Secret
3. Test of Time
4. Lost in Time
5. The Vision
6. Warrior's Return
7. Change the World
8. Pentagram
9. Eye of the Demon
10. End of the World
11. The Curse
12. Burn in Hell

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