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Nocturnal Rites is a
Swedish power metal band formed in 1990.
Biography
The band started off under the name
Necronomic playing
heavy metal, as can be heard on their demo (
The Obscure, 1991). This attracted some independent labels' attention, but they turned them down in the hope of a better opportunity. On the 2-track promo that was recorded in 1992, their style had evolved into a slightly more
melodic,
Iron Maiden-influenced sound, but was still unmistakably death metal.
The band initially consisted of Fredrik Mannberg (guitar/vocals) and Tommy Eriksson (drums), who then hired bassist Nils Eriksson. Following their change of style, the band hired vocalist Anders Zackrisson, whose voice was more adapted than Fredrik Mannberg's to
power metal. Tommy Eriksson was soon after replaced by Ulf Andersson. The band also added a second guitarist, Mikael Söderström. By this time they had fully evolved into the
Helloween-style
power metal sound of their first three albums.
In 1994, the band signed with
Swedish label Dark Age, and the first album
In a Time of Blood and Fire was released in collaboration with Megarock Records in 1995. After this, guitarist Mikael Söderström decided to leave the band and was replaced by Nils Norberg. Despite being a replacement for the band's
rhythm guitarist, Norberg became their
lead player, with Mannberg switching almost entirely to rhythm from then on. The second album,
Tales of Mystery......
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