With the musical climate these days catering mostly to hardcore, nu-metal, and emo music, it is a rarity for classic sounding metal bands to come together and put out material that can take listeners and not just convert them into fans, but captivate them. Nightvision falls into the category as having the potential to win over countless fans who long for the glory of anthemic vocals, impeccable guitar shredding, keyboard enhancements, and songs that make people throw their fists in the air and headbang with a frenzy.

Citing influences from a wide range of artists such as Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne, John Bonham, the members of Nightvision come together as tight as can be to deliver this very solid and consistent debut album, “Nightvision”. The band first came together in 2001, starting out in the club circuit in their native Sweden. H.B. Anderson of Fatal Smile took notice of Nightvision and got them in contact with MTM, who signed them to put out “Nightvision” in mid 2005.

The final product, is an anthem-like, melodic hybrid of Iron Maiden, Journey, Europe, and Dio with a slicker production and, at occasions, a more progressive overtone which can be found in the almost flawless work of Stefan Fjneller (guitars). His classically influenced guitar playing pays homage to guitar greats Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), and early Zakk Wylde material. The rhythm section of Michael Szemmler (drums) and Johan Petterson (bass) lays the foundation for a sound that has not been heard since times when Iron Maiden was on top of the heap in America and Journey was selling out stadiums worldwide. Peter Hogberg (vocals) is reminiscent of Rob Halford in the lower range, and Fabio Lione (Rhapsody) in the higher range which presents a very unique delivery that would impress even the most elite of melodic/metal purists. Marten Sanden (keyboards) adds a very unique flavor to the record, turning what would originally a collection of good, solid 80's metal tracks into a splendid work of modern day epic metal.

“Soldiers of a Dark Land” gives a nod to Dio with its steady mid-tempo drumming, pulse-like bass, operatic vocal harmonies, along with crushing guitars and haunting keyboards. “Silent Cry” is a speedy rocker that would get a crowd of people in a thrashing frenzy with its Judas Priest “Painkiller”-era vibe. Another stand-out anthem is “The Thin Line Between Love and Hate”, which contains an incredibly catchy chorus and some bluesy guitar patterns that truly makes the listening of this album worth every second of its time. One of the albums best moments, however, is “Break the Chain” which has a very thrashy rhythm guitar background reminiscent of earlier Ozzy Osbourne material, vocals that soar and shine in excellence, and an organ-like keyboard sound that showcase a more stripped down and raw Nightvision. The result is fresh, different, and extremely impressive.

In the end, Nightvision has offered an album that is nothing short of spectacular. With “Nightvision’s” virtuoso-style musicianship, melodic heaviness, and integrity to create this album in today’s musical climate, Nightvision should find themselves making fans out of devoted listeners around the world who long to relive the glory days of metal with a deeper and ambient experience.