Nightfall [Import]

Candlemass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Import [Generic]
• ASIN: B000006XEF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #920,377 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gothic Stone

2. The Well of Souls

3. Codex Gigas

4. At the Gallows End

5. Samarithan

6. Marche Funebre

7. Dark Are the Veils of Death

8. Mourners Lament

9. Bewitched

10. Black Candles

Editorial Reviews

Swedish exclusive, digitally remastered reissue of the doom metal act's 1987 album that's out-of-print in the US. Featuring a bonus disc with 6 tracks 'Bewitched' (demo), 'Battlecry' (demo), 'The Well Of Souls' (live), 'Dark Are The Veils Of Death' (live), 'At The Gallows End' (studio outtake), & 'Mourners Lament' (studio outtake) plus a recent interview with Leif Edling & Messiah Marcolin and their first video 'Bewitched'. Packaged in a slipcase with thick booklet loaded with photos & sleevenotes from bandleader Leif Edling. 2001. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There STILL is nothing heavier, October 8, 2003

By 

e5150 (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightfall (Audio CD)

Leif Edling, undisputed father of DOOM, takes his funereal elegies of torment and despair to another level with this sophomore release from Candlemass. This album could not have topped its predecessor no matter what. Instead, Leif evolves his musical creation and adds some faster tempos to the mix, thereby expanding the boundaries of DOOM.
The song titles should paint this album's feel quite well. Gothic Stone is just some weird sound effect which only lasts a few seconds before "Well of Souls" kicks in and launches this musical hearse into the abyss. "Well" is a little faster than what we're used to hearing from them at this point, but no less doomy, and really sets the whole tone of the album: heavier and faster. The guitar tone is more refined, unbelievably heavier than before, and ear splitting. New singer Messiah Marcolin hits the notes as he should and has a great voice, but seems a little overwrought in places. New lead guitarist Lars Johanson adds a shred factor which the band had not had before, and is more than welcome.
Leif's lyrics really shine on this release, specifically on the demands-your-attention tales on "At the Gallow's End" and "Samarithan", and "Mourner's Lament" tragically defines the feelings of loss upon the death of a loved one.
"Bewitched" I believe to be the strongest song among this batch of classics--no easy feat--with its undeniably classic driving doom riffs and catchy chorus.
The Bonus Disc also holds a rare gem: "Battlecry". How this did not progress beyond demo form I cannot guess. Fortunately for us, Leif's demos are always of such good quality that they could easily pass as properly produced recordings. This song is the definition of "lost classic", and again fast paced doom weaving a tale of Crusaders in battle.
I can completely understand how this recording can be widely acknowledged as the band's best. While I don't agree with that assessment entirely, I fully recommend it as a companion piece to Epicus Doomicus Metallicus. Those two albums show the Master Leif Edling as he creates and redefines his own musical genre.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Candlemass' doom classic enhanced by bonus features, March 30, 2002

By 

Colin Mcmillin "blind_and_mad_azag-thoth" (Columbia, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nightfall (Audio CD)

Candlemass, the 80's reincarnation of old Black Sabbath, continued their tradition of great doom metal on "Nightfall," which was also the first of their albums to feature the superhuman vocals of Messiah Marcolin. People are always talking about the operatic style of King Diamond, but Messiah is FAR superior to King. Additionally, Messiah somehow manages to look EVEN LESS COOL than King Diamond, which would be difficult for any normal human, but Messiah makes it look easy.

Songs on "Nightfall" are fantastic. "The Well of Souls" starts things off strongly; "At the Gallows End" "Samarithan" "Dark Are the Veils of Death" "Mourners Lament" and "Bewitched" are all great as well. The other songs are instrumentals, but they're great instrumentals. "Nightfall" was also the first album to feature Lars Johannson's virtuosic guitar solos, which add another touch of brilliance to these already awesome songs.

The bonus disc contains demos of Bewitched and Battlecry, live performances of The Well of Souls and Dark Are the Veils of Death, and studio outtakes of At the Gallows End and Mourners Lament, as well as a twenty five minute interview with Messiah, Lars and bassist/songwriter Leif Edling, which covers the band's creation of "Nightfall." There is also a music video(!!) of the song Bewitched, which is sort of cool, because it's Candlemass, but is also not cool because the production is not too good, and Messiah still doesn't look cool.

The songs on "Nightfall" are not as catchy as those on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus," but Candlemass' move toward the more grandiose atmosphere of their sophomore effort is still a very strong one, and well worth the buying for fans of doom metal. If you like Black Sabbath and don't own Candlemass CD's or haven't heard of them, BUY THEM IMMEDIATELY.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the ultimate in swedish doom metal.Messiah is God, November 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Nightfall (Audio CD)

From the first track to the final song you will be in awe! Messiah's vocals make Halford's seem weak.If you don't have this CD in your collection at home, then you need to buy this today! You won't be disappointed.I am not a saleman I am just a huge fan of Candlemass(Only when Messiah is singing)If you ever get a chance to see this killer Swedish band live, sell everything you need to come up with the money to do so!