The Grand Illusion

PyroMan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:25 pm

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

Ness · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:33 pm

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

OK. :o I'll check this album out simply for this description. Even though New world Messiah sucked some serious ball sack and it would take some serious work to develop anything close to Afterlife.

PyroMan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:42 pm

metalNESS wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

OK. :o I'll check this album out simply for this description. Even though New world Messiah sucked some serious ball sack and it would take some serious work to develop anything close to Afterlife.

You gave NWM a score of 70 so i guess there must have been something you liked about it.And even if NWM isn't their best it was a dissapointment compaired to their last 2.I still consider Shadowland better than Afterlife, though.I'll check again Afterlife and Shadowland to see if this one can stand to them as a future classic. :wink:

A word of advice - do not expect something that different than NWM or Shadowland.NR still use their old formula with a few added extras.This time though that formula works very well and all songs are great, something they had tough time doing after Tales Of Mystery And Imagination.

WinterIsComing · **Joined:** Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:23 am **Posts:** 1025

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

no thanks, I'll pass. It is amazing that mediocre generic band gets so much hype.

EpicMetalFan30 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 3:43 am

Ill but it, but of course I am a "discography" freak, so I would buy it even if it did not meet expectations. I hope it is as good as you say.
How did you hear it, I did not think it was out yet?

waynis · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:55 am

EpicMetalFan30 wrote:

Ill but it, but of course I am a "discography" freak, so I would buy it even if it did not meet expectations. I hope it is as good as you say.
How did you hear it, I did not think it was out yet?

You can download the promos before the actually album comes out. I already have albums from Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Hypocrisy and Nocturnal Rites that haven't come out yet

PyroMan · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:32 am

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

no thanks, I'll pass. It is amazing that mediocre generic band gets so much hype.

Afterlife - 86
Shadowland - 76

It seems you didn't think this was mediocre generic band before.And why do you think it is getting so much hype.So far i am the only one praising it.The album is not out yet so there are no reviews and you can't really say it's been hyped based only on 1 opinion.

PyroMan · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:35 am

EpicMetalFan30 wrote:

Ill but it, but of course I am a "discography" freak, so I would buy it even if it did not meet expectations. I hope it is as good as you say.
How did you hear it, I did not think it was out yet?

Yeah you can find the promo on p2p.I downloaded it from eMule but i'll probably be buying this when it comes out.Good thing the promo didn't have any static/fade outs or "You are listening to..." in it.

WinterIsComing · **Joined:** Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:23 am **Posts:** 1025

PyroMan wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

no thanks, I'll pass. It is amazing that mediocre generic band gets so much hype.

Afterlife - 86
Shadowland - 76

It seems you didn't think this was mediocre generic band before.And why do you think it is getting so much hype.So far i am the only one praising it.The album is not out yet so there are no reviews and you can't really say it's been hyped based only on 1 opinion.

As you can see I am rather generous with my scores and don't like giving bands scores that are too low. Yes Afterlife was pretty good, but Shadowland didn't do anything for me, I can't really give it a very low score because it isn't really bad, but it is not really interesting either. I don't mean just you praising this band, there is also holy_terror that is obsessed with them and the scores that their albums get from different review sites are ridiculous.

PyroMan · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:53 pm

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

no thanks, I'll pass. It is amazing that mediocre generic band gets so much hype.

Afterlife - 86
Shadowland - 76

It seems you didn't think this was mediocre generic band before.And why do you think it is getting so much hype.So far i am the only one praising it.The album is not out yet so there are no reviews and you can't really say it's been hyped based only on 1 opinion.

As you can see I am rather generous with my scores and don't like giving bands scores that are too low. Yes Afterlife was pretty good, but Shadowland didn't do anything for me, I can't really give it a very low score because it isn't really bad, but it is not really interesting either. I don't mean just you praising this band, there is also holy_terror that is obsessed with them and the scores that their albums get from different review sites are ridiculous.

I totally understand you, but maybe you should give albums the scores they deserve.I think it's the only fair thing to do.And i think others can better appreciate an honest score than you giving a high score and then bashing the album all over the forums.
It's true most of NR reviews are scored too high and not just here on MR, but that is happening everywhere and not only for NR.
Didn't know holy_terror is "obsessed" with NR.I wonder what his opinion on this album is then.

Ness · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:57 pm

Well I'm listening to it right now (thanks to emule) and the first song fools never die sounds like a Bon Jovi song, but the second song is pretty cool. I like the keyboards in it. This sounds like a Shadowland song. The third song has some good guitar work, and actually is impressive as well. The fourth song....

Ness · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 3:23 pm

…the forth song is nothing special. It has a cool intro, but I forgot the song was even playing while listening to it. The fifth song “Wasted Days” is kind of boring as well. “Cuts like a knife,” this song sucks. The rest of the album is pretty much just average, except “Never ending.” “Never ending” has a very melodic sound to it, and some nice guitar work. Also “One by One” has a nice solo, but that’s all it has going for it. The last song is probably just as bad as the first one. All and all this is a decent album, better than NWM, but not as good as Shadowland or Afterlife. 73/100 on my first listen. I’ll listen to it again later and see if I feel any different about it.

WinterIsComing · **Joined:** Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:23 am **Posts:** 1025

PyroMan wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:

PyroMan wrote:

Holy shit NOCTURNAL RITES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the somewhat mediocre NWM they have released a killer album.My feelings towards this album were very mixed and the first impression was mostly negative.At first i thought this was just NWM part 2.Most of the songs were just scraped ideas from NWM and NR were simply repeating themselves.But after considerable spins of The Grand Illusion i realized exactly how good the album was.This album is 10 out of 10.No weak songs and only 1 or 2 boring moments.The songs are more heavy, some fast and some mid-paced and melodic just as Thunderstone did with their new album, but NR managed to pull 10 great and amazing songs (no ballads).No changes at the vocal front.Johnny Lindkvist is still a monster of a vocalist and he does superb job on this album.I suggest anyone even slightly interested in this band to try their new one.I think i'll check again their older catalog just for a reminder and to do a more accurate comparison.This in my opinion is the better NWM.
My fav. song - Never Trust.

no thanks, I'll pass. It is amazing that mediocre generic band gets so much hype.

Afterlife - 86
Shadowland - 76

It seems you didn't think this was mediocre generic band before.And why do you think it is getting so much hype.So far i am the only one praising it.The album is not out yet so there are no reviews and you can't really say it's been hyped based only on 1 opinion.

As you can see I am rather generous with my scores and don't like giving bands scores that are too low. Yes Afterlife was pretty good, but Shadowland didn't do anything for me, I can't really give it a very low score because it isn't really bad, but it is not really interesting either. I don't mean just you praising this band, there is also holy_terror that is obsessed with them and the scores that their albums get from different review sites are ridiculous.

I totally understand you, but maybe you should give albums the scores they deserve.I think it's the only fair thing to do.And i think others can better appreciate an honest score than you giving a high score and then bashing the album all over the forums.
It's true most of NR reviews are scored too high and not just here on MR, but that is happening everywhere and not only for NR.
Didn't know holy_terror is "obsessed" with NR.I wonder what his opinion on this album is then.

I am not really bashing, they just don't deserve the hype, because they aren't really great nor are they really bad, just too generic and hollow. I'll update my scores now.

PyroMan · **Posted:** Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:27 pm

metalNESS wrote:

…the forth song is nothing special. It has a cool intro, but I forgot the song was even playing while listening to it. The fifth song “Wasted Days” is kind of boring as well. “Cuts like a knife,” this song sucks. The rest of the album is pretty much just average, except “Never ending.” “Never ending” has a very melodic sound to it, and some nice guitar work. Also “One by One” has a nice solo, but that’s all it has going for it. The last song is probably just as bad as the first one. All and all this is a decent album, better than NWM, but not as good as Shadowland or Afterlife. 73/100 on my first listen. I’ll listen to it again later and see if I feel any different about it.

I didn't work out for me either from the first listen.The best song stuck out of the rest (Never Trust) and some other good moments, but this sounded more like a copy job of NWM.It can get repetitive at the end.It took me about 4 full listens to appreciate the rest of the songs.
I'll spin again their older albums and try to compare the new one.
What worries me is that this album may get boring after the 10 or so spins.Right now my score would be 87.I'll see if it change with time.

EpicMetalFan30 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:07 am

http://www.metalcovenant.com/pages/index.htm

Radagast · **Posted:** Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:21 pm

I just can't get into Afterlife
I like Shadowland
New World Messiah is ok but just sound spretty tired (Avalon is pretty special, however)

This new one sounds better than NWM, but I'll never be able to like the current Nocturnal Rites as much as their previous incarnation.

Anonymous · **Posted:** Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:53 am

I like this new Nocturnal Rites alright! Not a bad album at all.

Still my all time favourite NR album is The Sacred Talisman. :twisted:

Anonymous · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:58 pm

Definetly a great band. I have "Grand Illusion" on pre order, should surface early next week. Can't wait to watch the bonus DVD.

I have downloaded a few songs and I must say that I am impressed the way these guys are taking it this time. For every album they seem to have something new cooking, which I love. Not a dull moment listening to these guys.

Album of the month, btw

Not too shabby.

And Mika - The Sacred Talisman is in my mind NOT the best album. Probablu Afterlife. I have still the new album to judge, though... We'll see...

EpicMetalFan30 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:41 pm

where did you pre-order it from?
I would like to do so as well

Eyesore · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2005 5:25 pm

I only have Tales Of Mystery And Imagination and The Sacred Talisman. I need to buy more.

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The Grand Illusion

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