I got to know NIGHTRAGE by their amazing as fuck debut album Sweet Vengeance back in 2003. Since then the band managed to amaze me, as well as disappoint me with its next releases. Now, in 2009 the brand new NIGHTRAGE album hits the stores and I am really curious to see how the band sounds now.

I think that people who are into melodic Death Metal (Swedish style) already know this band since musicians like Tomas Lindberg, Per M. Jensen, Fotis Benardo and Gus G. have served the band in the past. With an almost fully renovated line up, the Greek-Swedish horde strikes back with its new weapon, called Wearing A Martyr's Crown.

When they signed to Lifeforce Records I was sure that some things in the band's music were going to change. It seems I wasn't wrong since NIGHTRAGE's previous full-length effort A New Disease Is Born did not meet my expectations. A previously ass kicking Death Metal band had turned into a mediocre Metalcore act. Back then, I had the chance to have a friendly talk with Marios and each one of us explained his point of view in the album. While talking, he told me that the new album would feature both the old style of the band, as well as the new, more modern attitude. He was damn right ladies & gentlemen!

After the new additions (vocalist, guitarist, bassist and drummer), NIGHTRAGE have returned to their melodic Death Metal roots, while trying to maintain a balance between the sound of their first two releases and the Core attitude of A New Disease is Born. The band's new shouter is a real beast, giving a new dimension to the band's abilities, while Morck seems to have released Marios, who is shredding his ass off in this album, playing the one melodic lead after the other! The rhythm section sounds really tight, although as you understand they haven't been playing for a long time together.

I seem too excited, huh? It's not because Wearing A Martyr's Crown is such an amazing album. It is a more than good melodic Death Metal release with solid compositions and a talented guitarist who can lead the band by himself and make NIGHTRAGE shine, they deserve it! The actual reason I am too excited is that to tell you the truth I didn't believe Marios when he told me that the new album would feature elements from the old works. More melodic than the first two, but also more brutal than the previous. What are you waiting for? Do you think that other Swedish titans are better? Reality proves the opposite.