Nightrage - Insidious

Nightrage

Insidious

by Mark Gromen at 09 September 2011, 2:37 PM

It’s odd that NIGHTRAGE, the brainchild of FIREWIND’s “other” guitarist, Marios Iliopoulos, isn’t more popular. The music treads the same territory as ARCH ENEMY and like the albums that have preceded it, “Insidious” features a host of guest appearances. That includes his main band compadres, Gus G. (guitar solos on a pair of songs) and singer Apollo Papathansio, as well as reoccurring cameos from Tomas (LOCK UP / AT THE GATES, vocals on three tunes) Lindberg and EVERGREY guitarist/singer Tom Englund, who offers clean voices on two cuts. While Englund has contributed to previous NIGHTRAGE efforts, Ozzy’s latest guitarist and the ATG vocalist were both part of NIGHTRAGE during their formative years, playing/singing on both “Sweet Vengeance”(’03) and “Descent Into Chaos”(’05). So in addition to the regular band, “Insidious” is like Christmas morning, you never know who’s going to show up, or when.

Aggressive, but tuneful, most would consider NIGHTRAGE melodic Death Metal. “Poisoned Pawn” is a bit different, coming close to CHILDREN OF BODOM. The swirling, infectious title cut, one of Lindberg’s contributions, ends with acoustic guitar, while “Sham Piety” steps off the gas pedal, allowing a more soulful guitar. Otherwise, the majority of these dozen tracks (excluding intros/outro) are fit for the pit! Shuffling across the floor or over the barricade, surely a soundtrack to broken bones, skinned knees and bloody noses. Enjoy! Bonus track on the Japanese edition is a cover of DEF LEPPARD’s “Photograph” vocals courtesy of his FIREWIND bandmate.