NOCTURNAL RITES · Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Re-Release) | RED 2LP

Red double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Background information about ''

A Cult Classic Reborn: The seminal sophomore release from the Swedish power metal heavyweights!

Originally released in 1997, Tales of Mystery and Imagination is the second full-length album by Swedish power metal masters Nocturnal Rites, and let me tell you — this is the record where everything clicked. While the rest of the metal world was busy chasing trends and tuning down, these guys from Umeå stood tall with their twin-guitar attack, proudly waving the flag for traditional, classically-tinged heavy metal. And man, does it pay off. From the opening gallop of Ring of Steel to the closing fury of Burn in Hell, this album is a relentless, riff-driven joyride that never lets up.

What makes this record so special is the sheer conviction in the performances. The dual-guitar harmonies are razor-sharp, weaving Maiden-esque melodies with a distinctly Scandinavian precision. Vocalist Anders Zackrisson delivers every line with theatrical power, and the rhythm section drives the whole thing forward like a war chariot. Tracks like Pentagram and Eye of the Demon showcase a band that had absorbed all the right influences — the epic grandeur of Helloween, the galloping energy of early Stratovarius — and forged something uniquely their own. Now, thanks to Back on Black Records, this unheralded masterpiece finally gets the definitive reissue treatment it has always deserved.

For fans of:
Stratovarius, Helloween, HammerFall, Edguy, Gamma Ray

Other Versions

CD · 13,99 €

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. Ring Of Steel
A2. Dark Secret
A3. Test Of Time
B4. Lost In Time
B5. The Vision
B6. Warrior's Return

LP 2:
C7. Change The World
C8. Pentagram
C9. Eye Of The Demon
D10. End Of The World
D11. The Curse
D12. Burn In Hell

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