UN: When the new album was finished and you listened to it for the first time did you think that you guys really had something with this album? The album is solid from beginning to end and each song really hits home in my opinion.

Nils E: Thank you very much. Well, exiting the studio, my first emotion was really only relief, haha... You know, wed been recording this album for three months straight and went straight to another month of mixing. I was personally involved in every step along the way, from recording vocals to drums, bass, editing stuff, recording backing vocals and helping to produce keyboards. I also sat in the whole mix, so needless to say I was exhausted and drained of pretty much every drop of energy I ever had. I didnt actually listen to the album until a few months after we were done. But when I do listen to it now, I feel proud and thankful that we put in all that time and that we managed to write all these songs especially that we managed to get them all so different from each other.

UN: Does producing the album yourselves take any of the pressure off of your shoulders? No one knows what the band sounds like better then the band itself.

Nils E: Yeah, a bit. Its a relief to know that the dollars dont fly out the window if youre having a crappy day. This time we allowed ourselves to record when we felt the most inspired and with no outside guy steering things in one direction, we could zone in on our respective instruments and really give our all, regardless of of how long it would take.

UN: I was curious to ask how long it took to track the guitar solos. There are amazing guitar leads throughout the entire album. Were all of the solos written before going into the studio or were any of them improvised?

Nils Norberg: Not many solos were writen long time before. Most of the times I record solo begin with me just sitting and jamming over the solo part until I feel that I have a good idea.Then I just record a few takes and use the best one. I try to avoid to cut or edit in the solos, I think you loose some feel in the playing if you fuck with it to much. But no solos were made up before the recording, some soloparts were actually changed or writen during the recording

UN: The band has progressed quite a lot over the years. Do you feel like you guys have reached the sound you want or are we in for some surprises in the future?

Nils E: I think we have always changed between albums, at least to a certain degree. We could never write anything that didnt sound like us, of course, but we allow ourselves to not have any specific dos and donts when it comes to song writing. I think too many bands are way too narrow minded and write their fans off as idiots thinking theyd leave the band if they changed even a tiny bit. Real music fans appreciate honesty and vitality. So, yes I believe we will continue to progress. We love music way too much not to.

UN: One aspect of the album that really helps it strike a chord is just how damn catchy the album is. Do songs get rewritten a lot before they get to the point of being a finished song?

Nils E: Yeah, kind of. We usually let the songs that we get stuck on simmer till we get those ideas that fit just instantly. To try and force something into a song, say a chorus or whatever, will never be right. The songs that end up the best are always those that come from spur of the moment ideas. With that I dont mean they have to be written in five minutes .- we rather let a song sit for six months if we cant get a part right. Eventually it comes and then its just right.

The lyrics of the new album are also very relatable. Is it important to keep the lyrics easy for people to latch on to and relate them to their own lives? Fantasy lyrics have their place as well but it is hard to relate to songs about dragons and swords.

Nils E: I try to hold on to the few phrases that come when we fiddle around with the vocal melodies...and then work around them. As for the themes I guess I write about life in general and that way pretty much everyone can relate to them. Whats going on in the world and with people in generl is inspiration enough for a dozen albums.

UN: I know that this is the 8th album form the band, so is this the reason why you chose the album name? It seems quite fitting if that is the reason behind the name. Although Im sure there is a deeper meaning behind it as well.

Nils E:: Haha, actually that is probably the only meaning. We had about two million titles for this album and didnt feel we clicked until this one came. Actually, we were driving home from our drummers one night and had the deadline for the title the day after and I was saying what about The 8th Sin?...and the guys kind of liked it. The morning after our A&R had emmailed the exact same title suggestion. So it was meant to be, haha... Its a lso a nice little play with words there being only seven deadly sins and all...

UN: Do you consider the band to be a power metal band? Honestly I would just say metal. Limiting it to the power metal sub-genre really sells the band short.br>

Nils E: It probably wouldnt matter if we had death metal vocals and trombones we would still be a power-metal black-metal/trombone band. For some reason what people start calling your sound in the beginning sticks like crazy glue. For me it doesnt really matter, though people can call us what they feel is cool for them. However, power-metal for me is double bass frenzy and dragons and knights. I guess were not much like that, so simply melodic metal would maybe be a more suitable description.

UN: The beginning of Strong Enough, which is my favorite song on the album, surprised me and actually reminded me of David Bowie. It is a short part, but I was curious to ask how the idea for this section was formed. It was quite different from the rest of the album, although there are a few other parts that show a bit of an electronic influence.

Nils E:: Haha, David Bowie? Thats so cool, youre the first one to compare us to this genious. Well, the first version of this intro was actually with an acoustic drum beat, some clean, weird guitars and those same vocals minus the distortion. The sound you actually hear on the album was born during mixing and while we did the keyboards. This is the story on a lot of parts in our songs on this album. You know, we go nuts and get our creative hats on... This is the fun part of being in the studio! And the blessing of having lots of time to spend on the bling!

UN: Ballads might not be all that common anymore, but the song Me is a beautiful piece. How did the song come about? Was there any apprehension about putting the song on the album? I would say it stands as a nice contrast to the rest of the album and really showcases Jonnys vocal ability.

Nils E:: This song was actually written for the last album and arranged for a 72 piece orchestra. But since we had to wrap up that session during the summer, our schedual collided with the orchestras and we couldnt manage to pull it off before deadline. We all liked the outline of the song and wanted to do it for this album. But instead of doing that bombastic orchestra version we simply turned the exact opposite direction and did the smallest production of it we ever could. We wanted it to be Jonny in an empty room with just a piano. No other instruments and effects. I think it turned out really special and odd. 99% of all the bands on this planet would have done it with layers of keyboards and backing vocals, but Jonny really sings his heart ot and prooves a big song doesnt have to be big in production. And like you said it really sticks our from the rest of the material on the album, which is really cool as a mood breaker there at the end.

UN: What are the bands expectations for the album? I think this could be an album that really spreads the Nocturnal Rites name. Are you guys excited to get the album out there and see how people react?

Nils E: Yeah, always excited. Last album did better than the previous in every territory, so were hoping this trend continues. Well see we dont set too unrealistic goals. Were mellow dudes that like to drink beer, be out playing, meeting fans and travel the world, so well keep it at that and consider everything else as bonus.