Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Nightvision - ST - 2005 - MTM Music & Publishing

Track Listing1. Before The Storm 2. Fight 3. Soldier Of A Dark Land 4. Silent Cry 5. Dragonfire 6. Thin Line Between Love And Hate 7. Stand Tall 8. Hard To Let You Go 9. Break The Chain 10. The Last Time 11. Time Is Running Out 12. The End

Most of you who read my reviews from time to time will realize that there are a ton of GREAT hard rock bands floating in and out of the metal stratosphere on any given day. The talent and determination to continue the long standing tradition of bands like Tesla, Whitesnake, and Ted Nugent is just awe inspiring really. I mean honestly when can you remember a star athlete or a draft pick who wanted to go and play for a losing team or a non-contender? Never. Never. Yet every month it seems like some underground act has that undying passion to play hard rock no matter what current social status it falls into.

That brings us Nightvision, a band with that distinct and recognizable traditional hard rock flare. This Swedish band is an uncompromising, riveting musical experience that recalls the finest moments of Whitesnake, Pretty Maids, and Riot. With a huge guitar sound reminiscent of Jake E. Lee (Ozzy, Badlands) crossed with Mark Reale, with a bit of George Lynch's (Dokken, Lynch Mob) catchy, driving hooks thrown in, this debut album may be one of the finest moments of the entire year. Really, in all honesty I can't remember a band that really stuck out in terms of power, precision, and skills. This band has it all and more.

Obviously the biggest highlight of the band is singer Peter Hogberg, who really sounds like a dead ringer for David Coverdale or Robert Plant. His emotional, blues inspired voice is absolutely perfect for this energetic freight train. The guitars are played perfectly by Stefan Fjellner, who puts on a clinic here with thundering chops that possess both hook and driving melody. The riffs gallop in a speed metal fashion at times (like a good hard rock guitarist should), but still capture that huge addictive chop. On cuts like "Dragonfire" and "Soldier Of A Dark Land" that new wave classic sound creeps through, on other songs it is more of a bombastic hard rock sound, like a Whitesnake or Tesla type of affair. Unfortunately this album does have one small problem, that being a keyboard element mixed in that, in my opinion, really ruins the power on display here. With the annoying keyboards the band build atmosphere instead of just riding the electricity. It isn't enough to ruin the record by any means but if I had my choice the keys would be gone, gone, GONE.

Bottom Line - Amazing band, amazing album! For fans of Shakra, Wicked Sensation, and Whitesnake.


--EC 09.16.05