No big deal hearing that an all-star project has been spawned within the melodic death metal scene, or that the band's debut was produced by Fredrik Nordstrom. Take a look at the line-up, though, and your heart might skip a beat; listen to the album and it might stop entirely. Nightrage is the living dream of former Exhumation guitarist Marios Iliopolous, who somehow managed to get ex-At The Gates throat Tomas Lindberg in the driver's seat, with Dream Evil guitarist Gus G. And The Haunted's drummer Per M. Jensen riding shotgun and Evergrey singer Tom S. Englund tagging along for the ride. Sweet Vengeance is indeed rock solid melodic death at first listen, but the usual cop-out comparisons to old In Flames have little worth here. In fact, the album possesses a very healthy Testament vibe tuned up with black metal violence, with Lindberg turning in a performance that recalls the glory days of At The Gates in places. Nightrage is actually one his best outings in recent years. Lead-off track 'The Tremor' is about as In Flames as Sweet Vengeance gets, 'Macabre Apparition' is a black metal shot in the arm, while 'Gloomy Daydreams', 'At The Ends Of The Earth' and 'In My Heart' showcase Iliopolous' love of Testament's shred. Some of the best moments, however, come with Englund's fleeting clean vocal appearances. The man's voice is so rich and powerful on 'Hero', 'Ethereal' and 'Circle Of Pain' in particular, standing in direct opposition to Lindberg's shrieks, that he creates a dynamic other bands playing with alternating vocals can only dream of. One of the best albums of 2003 thus far.