Metal Underground.com

Earlier this year, Swedish/Greek melodic death metal band Nightrage released their third album, and first under Lifeforce records after parting with Century Media. "A New Disease Is Born" begins with a roar and Gothenburg-style riff that lets listeners know that they are not fucking around. The opening track, "Spiral," continues with some thrashy riffing and a fast pace, save for the melodic chorus, which alternates growled and clean vocals, the latter of which are excellent I might add. The band moves effortlessly and smoothly from aggressive metal to melodic chorus, and even an acoustic refrain with clean vocals, throughout this song and the entire album.

To some extent, Nightrage sound like many other melodic death metal bands I've heard. On the other hand, their actual sound is slightly different and makes me question the label at times. Their guitars often play thrash riffs or very melodic tunes, rather than anything vaguely resembling death metal. The most extreme parts of Nightrage's music are the drumming and vocal delivery, which could both possibly be considered death metal during the faster, heavier parts.

The drummer does a good job of not overpowering the melodic aspect of the band, and compliments some killer grooves with well timed double-bass and drum rolls. Vocalist Jimmie Strimmel does a good caustic growl and superb clean vocal delivery, allowing the band to be extremely aggressive and truly melodic at will. That's not to understate the musicianship of Nightrage's guitarists, who deliver any combination of fast, heavy and/or melodic riffing that gives Nightrage the bulk of their musical identity.

Throughout the album, Nightrage has integrated the melodic aspect of the music so well that rarely does a melodic chorus or break feel like an intrusion on the song. In a number of songs, such as "Death-like Silence," "Scathing," "Encircle," and "Spiritual Impulse," the band breaks out the melodic riffing during the chorus, while Strimmel keeps "singing" in his harsh growl. Some songs, such as "Spiral," feature heavier, more aggressive music with a melodic chorus, while others such as "Scars of the Past" contain melodic elements throughout the main riffs, at times reminding me of Children of Bodom's sound. Still, in "Reconcile" and "Scars of the Past" they mix a clean guitar with the distorted metal guitars for a more melodic feel.

The entire album is so solid, that it's hard to pick out standout tracks easily. Surely the opener is one of them. Being the heavier and more aggressive tracks, "Death-like Silence," "Scathing" and "Encircle" have eventually become personal favorites, as well as the more melodic "Surge of Pity." "A New Disease is Born" seems to pick up in the latter half, creating a good run of slightly heavier songs toward the end before wrapping up with the nicely crafted instrumental/acoustic title track that highlights the guitarists' musicianship.

Overall, "A New Disease is Born" is simply a well-rounded, well-executed, and enjoyable journey of melodic death metal.