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.
Shadowland
Nocturnal Rites Lyrics
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As I opened my eyes?
Behold, the dream opens up
What's the thing that I feel inside me?
I can tell what will come
What has becomes of us all
Rise, Shadowland
A destiny, the final key
The dream has come alive
Rise up again
Open, Shadowland
A dream to be, eternally
Open, Shadowland
What's the thing that has come to haunt me?
The dream comes alive
Inside the gateway of time
At the dead lake of bitter waters
The future reveals
I see the end of the world
The lyrics of Nocturnal Rites's Shadowland convey a sense of foreboding and dread. The singer awakens to a dream world that is beginning to unfold before his eyes. He feels a sense of inevitability as he anticipates what is to come. He wonders what has become of us all as he contemplates this dark world that is taking shape.
As the dream becomes more vivid, he sees a world of ice and feels that this world is his destiny. He describes it as the final key, suggesting that this is the end result of his journey to this dreamland. He urges the Shadowland to rise up again and become a dream to be eternally. The singer seems to be both fascinated and frightened by what he sees in the Shadowland. He knows that he is witnessing the end of the world, but he cannot turn away from what he sees.
Overall, the lyrics of Shadowland paint a picture of a dark world that is both enthralling and terrifying. The singer is drawn to this world, but he also seems to fear what it represents. The imagery and language used by the singer convey a sense of inevitability and finality.
Line by Line Meaning
What was the light that I saw before me
Curiously wondering about the source of the light he saw when he opened his eyes.
As I opened my eyes?
He did not mention what was the reason behind the opening of his eyes.
Behold, the dream opens up
Realizing that the dream he had before is coming back to him.
What's the thing that I feel inside me?
He is trying to figure out what is the feeling within him that he is experiencing right now.
I can tell what will come
He is confident that he knows what will happen next or in the future.
What has become of us all
Wondering what happened to everyone or everything around him.
Rise, Shadowland
He calls for the Shadowland to rise up.
A world of ice
Describing the Shadowland as a cold and icy world.
A destiny, the final key
The fate of everything lies in the hands of the Shadowland, the last hope.
The dream has come alive
The dream he had before reemerged and is now a reality.
Rise up again
He calls upon the Shadowland to rise again, implying that it had risen before.
Open, Shadowland
He calls for the Shadowland to open its gates for him to enter.
A dream to be, eternally
He expresses his desire for the dream to last forever.
Inside the gateway of time
The entrance to the Shadowland is through the gateway of time.
At the dead lake of bitter waters
The Shadowland is located near a lifeless and unpleasant lake.
The future reveals
He is able to see what is in store for him in the future.
I see the end of the world
He has had a vision that suggests the end of the world is near.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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