Credits:Nocturnal RitesDescription:It'snotinconceivable(farfromobviousbuthardlyinconceivable)thatSweden'sNocturnalRiteswouldbefansof'80sarenarockersStyx.Giventheirpredilectionformusicrichinbothmelodyandpomp,equalmeasuresofmuscleanddelicacy,and,now,havingreleasedanalbumentitledGrandIllusion,nearly30yearsaftertheAmericans'watershedeffortbythesamename,maybethere'ssomethingmorethanmerecoincidenceatworkhere?Inallseriousness,though,tenuouscomparisonsandcreativebroadstrokesaside,therearenorealreasonsthatStyxfansshouldexpecttoexperienceatrans-decadeconnectionwithNocturnalRites'eighthstudioalbum.NotanAORorprogressiverockrecord,thisGrandIllusionof2006featurescompetentlycrafted,ifpredictablysafe,commercialpowermetalthelikesofwhichtheSwedeshavechurnedoutrepeatedlythroughouttheircareer.Infact,resistancetochangeisperhapsthemostdisspiritingthingaboutthisband,astheyappeartosimplycontentthemselveswithrecyclingthesameroad-testedtemplatesperfec