Customer Reviews

New World Messiah

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, at the risk of being totally hated, I'm going to offer my thoughts on New World Messiah...

Personally, I gave this CD a 3, and if it wasn't for the band having an awesome singer and quality sound, I'd give it less. I'm a fan of their "Afterlife" CD a lot, and like most of "Shadowland" as well, but with this CD, I think their time has run out. What happened here?

Okay...it's not like a hate it, but once the first track is done with, I'm left yearning for something I can enjoy, but it's just not there. "New World Messiah" (the song) is a good opener. No problems but it's nothing we haven't heard before from this band. But, the comes "Against the World," and I'm left saying "damn, I hope there's something good coming soon, because I'm getting worried." Nocturnal Rites is really sounding sing-songy and relying too much on their patented background singing-infused chorus lines. The guitar solo is just boring...I may be no guitar virtuoso, but I think I could at least think of a more interesting melody here.

"Avalon" comes on and I'm like, "Okay, I don't like this song, but it's actually a good one." So, not too bad yet... But, for some reason "Avalon" makes me feel like listening to Edenbridge, because the chorus feels so bombastic I can't help but wishing I was belting out "The Undiscovered Land" atop of uptempo power metal instead of atmospheric metal. Nothing against Edenbridge, but Nocturnal Rites used to be power metal with a touch of tension, anger, and inspiration in the hooks...what's this? This just doesn't have the same excitement to it. It feels like the band's swansong more than a band in the middle of their peak as musicians.

From here though, I'm going to have a tough time liking much else..."Awakening" has an interesting chorus with it's melodic progression, but that irritating effects-ridden solo just kills it for me. "Egyptica" feels like the band needed a "concept" for a song, and just went all out with this Egypt flavor. Yeah, it's got that Egyptian sound, but the guitarwork really isn't memorable, just different from power metal. "Break Away" is a filler song that is tolerable but I felt like I'd heard it before even though the song was only 90 seconds through...

I know some people really dig power metal ballads... I am hard to win over with them, however. A ballad to me is not an excuse to dump good guitar riffing and replace it with more vocals. "The Flame Will Never Die" is just what this feels like to me. Totally formulaic, even for power metal. Not a good riff in the song, just chunky, repetitive background noise to give all the attention to the vocals.

"One Nation" is good I'd say, but still not a hit. "Nightmare" is just Nocturnal Rites playing with their own sound... you know what's going to happen before the guys play it, but at least there is some descent soloing going on here.

What happened to my sound on "Afterlife"? These guys were one of the bands that made me say "damn, power metal really kicks ass! what a band to listen to while driving!" "Shadowland" had that great song "Birth of Chaos" so I was still hopeful, but ... alas, I'm lost here. My only saving grace is that I haven't heard anything before 2000 from them, so at least I can check out "new" old material at some point and regain some respect for this band.

I'm sorry if this is offensive to anyone... Nocturnal Rites just seems like a band going through the motions, playing off their past successes and thinking that as long as they use the same sound and production, no one will notice... just my thoughts, though...

I don't know if I can make such a bold statement, but it is definitely my #1 favorite release for 2004, and certainly ONE of the best Power Metal recordings ever. This effort is pretty much flawless, the production is crushing, guitar work is stellar (as always with N.R.) vocals are even better (and more varied) than their last two CDs, and the bass/drums lay a perfect foundation, locking in with each other and hitting insanely hard... (this CD is LOUD!)
Ever since these guys layed off the "medieval" topics, their records have been greatly improving. I'm not saying "Sacred Talisman" was not good, it's just that the last three are amazing, "New World Messiah" being the best (in my opinion...) The vocals do not get too shrill, which is a constant complaint for people just getting into Power Metal. Jonny's voice is agressive yet melodic, keeping it true to old-school metal. The leads are incredible, they fit in perfect with the song, never coming across as obnoxious... Highly recommended.

OH MY GOD!!!!This album is twice as good as any of their other album's.So don't listen to those other bad review's.There all just huge Afterlife fan's.And they're craving something that's just straight forward,slow,and boring heavy metal.And guess what,this album is heavier too.Just in a more Power speed metal package.I use to wonder if Owe Lingvall their drummer,had what it took to make a really great Power speed metal drummer,and you know what? He's got it in spades!Although this album does have one small negative.And that's that some of their song's are not as catchy as some of their other song's.Egyptica is a great example.I really think this is probably the weakest lerical song on the album.But it also has arguably the most amazing guitar solo on the album.So I think the amazing musicianship makes up for it,and I mean that too!On this album they are way tighter as a group,and you will,that is if you give it a chance,definately hear that.Although I,myself heard it right off,and I was literally blown away!All their guitar solo's are way,way,more wicked than their other album's.So I tend to think that maybe only Power metal hater's just don't like this album as much.Which is expected.What with the kind of quick transition from a more heavy metal sounding album like Afterlife,to a slightly more Power metal sounding album like Shadowland,to this amazing display of Power speed metal.I think this album might be a little hard to diggest lerically,although just at first.But the outstanding production,music,that is way tighter,faster,and about four times better than the other album's should do the trick.Now don't get me wrong those other album's are amazing too,but I still think musically,not so much lerically,that this album put's them really badly to shame.This album is so good that maybe it hasn't really sunk into the other reviewer's head's yet.I mean,it's of such a high caliber that it might cause you to write a bad review purely because you'r mind that might be use to the other two slower album's.That it just can't comprehend how EXTREMELY awesome this one is.So I think that people should buy this album DEFINATELY,and get their other amazing album's as well,and if you'r thinking about putting down this album for whatever stupid reason.I urge you to take another listen.The slightly different approach of the lerics might not have you by the first time you listen to it.But a couple more,and you just might be hooked...

Nocturnal Rites, both old and new, produces quality work and this album is no exception. It has a progressive tone, getting darker as it goes on. All the songs are well done, and original, none of the same old stuff repeated through the album. A great listen!

My one complaint, like many other Power/Fantasy metal albums: It's too short! =) Music this good shouldn't stop!

When i first heard Nocturnal Rites new singer on Afterlife, i hated his voice,always thought he sounded just like the guy from stryper.But then when i started listening to Shadowland it grew on me more and more, he still isnt one of my "favorite" singers,however he does bring a unique sound to the band.This one doesnt quite hit me like Shadowland does but this album has very good moments.The title track,Against the World,Awakening,The Flame will never die and One Nation are def all stand outs on the album.As a matter a fact the middle break after the solo in "One Nation" is so good it should have been made into a song itself,reason i say this is because they don't play it long enough so i forced to rewind it a dozen times or more,yes its that cool.The production is a little to small by comparison of SL but doesnt sound bad,just tiny,so it could use a little more power behind the songs.I didnt like the album at all when i first heard it but if you give it a few spins it will become very good.In conclusion NR have always been known for killer chorus's and there are some here as well,also the guitarist has a very very creative style without super speed or super flashy playing,although some are extremely techinical.So listen and enjoy.

Nocturnal Rites has evolved yet again. and in my opinion it's only hurt this great band. what New world Messiah lacks that both Afterlife and Shodowland had is energy. I am one of those people who prefer the more aggressive side of metal, and to me when Nocturnal Rites chose to play heavy they were one of the best in the buisness. What you get with New World Messiah is your everyday power metal lacking inspiration and originality. while there are still plenty of hints towards a more aggressive side they are just very few. one thing I must point out though is that the vocalist has never sounded better, and I hope that with their next album they can reastablish the intensity that they once had.all in all if you want to get into Nocturnal Rites get Afterlife or Shadowland first,you wont be dissappointed.

Nocturnal Rites has a new album. The production is fine, but not as good as the Shadowland or Afterlife production. Another thing that makes me give this record a 3 star review is it's relative wimpiness. Even the faster songs are more polished and have less urgency than the greatness of past albums. There is nothing like "Vengeance" on this cd, and some of the songs are getting pretty cheesy - more like Gamma Ray, Dream Evil or some bad Dio songs. "Avalon" and "Egyptica" come to mind as failures. It's good, solid, cliche power-metal, but Nocturnal Rites were my favorite Power Metal band until this album. Even Hammerfall has better aggressive dragon songs than this. Auto Pilot is what these Swedes are driving on. If you're a Power Metal completists, however you should still buy it.

I have only recently discovered this band, yet another superb metal outfit from Scandinavia, but am already a fan. 'New World Messiah' is a particulary strong album from 2004 and I agree with the other five star reviews, it blows you away from start to finish and as with any great metal album you are left wanting more. To me this album ranks alongside my other two favourite power metal albums from the last 15 years or so, 'Undead' by Tad Morose and 'Episode' by Stratovarius. All that you expect from the best power metal can be found on this album - strong musicianship and songwriting, powerful vocals, escapism, excitement, emotional intensity, drama, even great artwork! Buy it, you will not be disappointed.

2004's New World Messiah is the sixth studio album from Swedish power metal band Nocturnal Rites. I wasn't a fan early on, but I've been really getting into this band lately, and this is one of their better albums.

With this album, Nocturnal Rites seems to have finally settled on what their sound is going to be, after their early death metal experiments, the cheesy D&D of their first couple of albums, and the heavier, aggressive Afterlife. The music on New World Messiah is still without a doubt power metal, but it's the kind of polished, melodic power metal of bands like Masterplan and At Vance. The band is really tight on this one, delivering hard-hitting power metal that's long on melody and short on references to dragons and magic swords. Johnny Lindqvist in particular sounds incredible, and has become one of power metal's most underrated vocalists. Highlights on New World Messiah include "End of Days," "Against the World" and the powerful title track, but it's pretty impressive from start to finish.

If you're a fan of melodic power metal along the lines of Masterplan, Ride the Sky, Thunderstone, Jorn and At Vance, New World Messiah is an album well worth hearing. Nocturnal Rites is doing this kind of metal very very well.

"New World Messiah" (2004) is the sixth album from Sweden's Nocturnal Rites and the first one I bought. My second Nocturnal Rites purchase was Afterlife (2000), and I will restrict my discussion of their discography to those two albums.

"New World Messiah" consists of polished power metal similar to that of Masterplan. But compared to Masterplan's self-titled debut (which I also reviewed), this Nocturnal Rites release is heavier and more aggressive.

Although "Afterlife" is even heavier, "New World Messiah" is still pretty heavy for power metal. Furthermore, songs like "One Nation" and "Awakening" (my favorite) are catchy and melodic, but still have plenty of aggression.

There is a good variety of material on "New World Messiah". The track selection includes both speed metal ("Avalon") and mid-tempo anthems ("Against the World"). "Egyptica" stands out from the rest with its symphonic elements and middle-eastern influences. The heavy ballad "The Flame Will Never Die" provides further diversity.

The production on "New World Messiah" is very clear. In my opinion, this is an improvement over the production on "Afterlife", which was good but a bit muffled.

If, like me, you enjoyed Masterplan's 2003 debut but wished for "more aggression and less keyboards", you should pick up "New World Messiah". If you like your power metal darker, heavier and more aggressive, check out Afterlife. I appreciate both of these Nocturnal Rites albums for their own merits and recommend both.