Nightrage - A New Disease Is Born

Published Feb. 01 2007

*=Staff's pick	Spiral* Reconcile Death-like Silence A Condemned Club Scars Of The Past* De-fame Scathing* Surge Of Pity Encircle Drone* Spiritual Impulse A New Disease Is Born

Genre	Melodic Death Metal	Jimmie Strimell	Vocals
Tracks	12	Marios Iliopoulos	Guitar
Runningtime	46 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Lifeforce Records	Henric Carlsson	Bass
Release	09 March 2007	Alex Svenningson	Drums
Country	Greece/Sweden	-	Keyboard
Similar artists	In Flames, Arise, Soilwork

There have been some changes to Nightrage prior to the release of their third album entitled A New Disease Is Born. Guitarist Gus G. has left, drummer Alex Svenningson is new to the band and the biggest change is that Jimmie Strimell is replacing Tompa Lindberg on vocals. Furthermore, the band has switched from Century Media in favour of Lifeforce Records and has worked with Jacob Hansen as producer for this new disease.

I witnessed Nightrage live with Jimmie when they supported Bolt Thrower last year, and I didn't feel that it worked out too well then, but with the new material being more suitable for his voice it turns out well in that department. On their last album Descent Into Chaos (2005), they delivered some fine tunes within the margin of the Gothenburg sound, but with the change of vocalist, the music has taken a change as well. No major stuff but enough to make them lose their position as a melodic death metal band that I rank high. Their signature sound is still mostly intact but there a few elements that sneaks upon you which lower the grades.

As it should be, Nightrage unleashes the album with a full throttle right from the start and very quick it becomes obvious that changes have been made. I do not want to use the "core" as the ending word on how I describe the sound of Nightrage (it is bad enough that the thought occurs in the first place) but there are things with the structures of the songs and how the vocals are performed that let my mind drift towards that direction. The frequent use of clean vocals is a new addition, unfortunately it tends to slow the songs down and pause the flow, but on the bright side, that is where the vocals sound the absolute best and in those parts I have nothing to complain about Jimmie's vocal efforts. However, it is with the growls that I have huge problems as it sounds too static and to much like pissed of screams instead of full-grown growls. The departure of Tompa Lindberg appears to be a huge step down for Nightrage in my humble opinion.

Renewal and variation might not be all bad as A New Disease Is Born comes out as a very dynamic album and Jacob Hansen has done a good job with the sound of the album, but perhaps his earlier work with Fear My Thoughts, Hatesphere and Raunchy among others has left it marks here as well? Moreover, it feels like I have underestimated Marios's efforts and overestimated Gus's earlier when I am listening to this album. With Gus gone I had expected a void in the guitar-department but when I listened to the album for the first time, I did not even think about it. Marios has done a brilliant job as the sole guitarist, and he must have been pulling double shifts in the studio considering how great the guitars on the album sound.

At the end of the day this album is not a match compared with Descent Into Chaos. In some aspects it is not even close to match up with its predecessor. At best it comes close with the instrumental parts and even if Gus is not around anymore, there are many highly enjoyable and playful guitars. Hat's off to Marios for maintaining the high and significant Nightrage guitar sound, but that is the only hat I will lift for A New Disease Is Born I am afraid.