Since the last album "New World Messiah" ("�simply wicked!" 9,5 out of 10 points, Rock Hard Germany) in 2004, the Swedish quintet, haven't found much time to sleep. Last year they joined Edguy for a 6-week tour all over Europe, in 2005 the 10th anniversary was celebrated with the re-release of the first two albums on the "Lost In Time" double CD and the "Demons At The Opera" live show where the band played with a 55-piece orchestra at the Umea opera house. The show was broadcasted on National Swedish TV and praised by worldwide media.

Now it�s time for the band to look forward again as the band finished the work on the seventh studio album "Grand Illusion", recorded and mixed at Toontrack Studio in Umea. The resulting ten new songs sound much fresher than many younger bands. A lot of well known musicians appeared as guests on the great new output, namely Stefan Elmgren (HammerFall), Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Henrik Danhage (Evergrey), Kristoffer W. Olivius (Naglfar) and Swedish world champion of cross-country skiing (three times world cup gold), Per Elofsson. No joke�!

The finished album, in stores September 19th 2005, will contain a limited bonus DVD enclosing the 3 videos from "New World Messiah", the brand-new "Fools Never Die" video, a "Making Of Grand Illusion" and extra footage from the "Demons Of The Opera" show.

In advance to the album release Nocturnal Rites will support Nightwish on three shows in Sweden:

08. September 05 (S) Stockholm Arenan
09. September 05 (S) G�teborg Lisebergshallen
11. September 05 (S) Ume� SkyArena

Tracklist "Grand Illusion":