Their first three albums ('In a Time of Blood and Fire', 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination' and 'The Sacred Talisman') feature the former vocalist Anders Zackrisson, while the newer albums are sung by Johnny Lindkvist. Also the musical style has changed a bit during the years; some demo's were something more like death metal, but then the three first cd releases pure melodic power metal, and on "Afterlife" they took a bit heavier approach with influences of true heavy metal like Masterplan and Dream evil and even some thrash metal riffs, though the melodic choruses were kept right in the core of the songs.
They have released a few more albums since, with the latest ones being 'Grand Illusion' that came in 2005 and '8th Sin' that came out in 2007. The band keeps on fighting on and remains one of Scandinavia's best known power metal bands.
On June 21st, 2008 it was announced that guitarist Nils Norberg has left the band. On May 9th, 2010, Chris Rörland joined Nocturnal Rites. A video of him playing and Fredrik Mannberg talking a bit about him can be seen here.
Glorious
Nocturnal Rites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never find out what went wrong
I'm being punished, and sent to die
These cold and icy walls will end my life
In the dungeon where the holy rule
Can someone ever ease the cross I bear
When my mission is done
And my death will be glorious
My task is complete, my journey will come to end
Their fate control them, I'll never loose
The chains will hold me, hold me to the ground
I hold the answer, inside my mind
But in this prison I'll see the end
The lyrics to Nocturnal Rites's song Glorious paint a picture of imprisonment and impending death. The singer sings of being unable to discover what caused their imprisonment, but they are certain they will die within the cold and icy walls of their cell. The dungeon where the "holy rule" suggests religious persecution and the singer's suffering being a result of their beliefs. They feel burdened by their current situation and seek a way to have their cross eased, perhaps asking for mercy or forgiveness from those who persecuted them.
However, the singer is also resolute in their conviction that their death will be glorious. They believe that when their mission is complete, they will have found a way to make their death count for something. They hold within themselves an answer, a message, that they will carry with them to the end. Despite being imprisoned and bound by chains, they feel empowered by the knowledge that they have control over their fate. This suggests that their cause may be a just one, worth dying for.
Overall, the lyrics to Glorious speak to themes of imprisonment, faith, conviction, and sacrifice. The singer faces a difficult and seemingly hopeless situation, but instead of despairing, they hold onto the belief that their death will be meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
My hands are tied here, in the darkness
I am trapped and powerless in a dark place
I'll never find out what went wrong
I will never discover what caused my current situation
I'm being punished, and sent to die
I am facing punishment and death as a result of my actions
These cold and icy walls will end my life
The walls of my prison will lead to my eventual death
In the dungeon where the holy rule
I am in a place ruled by authorities deemed to be holy
Can someone ever ease the cross I bear
Is there anyone who can make my burdens easier to bear?
And my death will be glorius
My death will be a source of pride and honor
When my mission is done
After I have completed my task
And my death will be glorious
My death will be a source of pride and honor
My task is complete, my journey will come to end
Once my mission is accomplished, my journey will be over
Their fate control them, I'll never loose
Others may be controlled by their fate, but I will not be defeated
The chains will hold me, hold me to the ground
I am physically bound and cannot escape
I hold the answer, inside my mind
I possess the information or solution within myself
But in this prison I'll see the end
Even though the end is near, I am still trapped in this prison
Contributed by Lila N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.