New World Messiah

『New World Messiah』は、疾走感と厚いコーラスを磨き上げ、NOCTURNAL RITESが北欧パワー・メタルの強度を示した第6作だ。前2作で確立したモダンなパワー・メタルの路線を継承しつつ、勇壮なアンセムとしての完成度をさらに高めている。ジャケットは、BLIND GUARDIANやICED EARTHの作品でも知られるロシアの幻想画家レオ・ハオが手掛けた。 “Against the World”“Awakening”“Avalon”の3曲にはビデオも制作された。中東的な旋律を織り込んだ“Egyptica”や、荘厳な“The Flame Will Never Die”まで、多彩な楽曲が並ぶ。ヨニー・リンドクヴィストの力強いヴォーカルが全編を貫く。ミックスはフィンランドのFinnvoxスタジオで行われた。本作に先立ち、バンドはSAXONとヨーロッパを、HAMMERFALLと日本をツアーしていた。バンドの充実ぶりを刻んだ一枚である。モダンなパワー・メタルの様式を確立した、脂の乗った時期の一枚だ。楽曲はいずれも4分から6分ほどに引き締められ、良質なメタル・アンセムとして結実している。

New World Messiah is Nocturnal Rites' sixth album, on which they honed drive and thick choruses to show the strength of Nordic power metal. Carrying over the modern power-metal direction established on the previous two albums, they further raised its completeness as rousing anthems. The cover art was created by Leo Hao, the Russian fantasy artist also known for his work with Blind Guardian and Iced Earth. Videos were made for three songs — "Against the World," "Awakening" and "Avalon." From "Egyptica," which weaves in Middle Eastern melodies, to the solemn "The Flame Will Never Die," varied songs line up. Jonny Lindkvist's powerful vocals run throughout. Mixing was done at the Finnvox studio in Finland. Ahead of this album, the band had toured Europe with Saxon and Japan with HammerFall. A record carving the band's fullness. A record from a prime period, establishing their modern power-metal style. Each song is tightened to around four to six minutes, coming together as quality metal anthems.