Customer Reviews

Nightfall

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Messiah, has a unique vibrato "trill" to his voice with much support and heavy laden power!! It sounds really cool. Great job capturing the heavy gothic feel, and excellent vocal execusion.

If you are a fan of dark gothic tectures and vocalists that can actually sing, then you will enjoy this unique swedish metal band.....

Messiah Marcolin's first album with Candlemass, and in my view Candlemass' best work, surpassing even the astounding debut. More Eurogothic doom metal is in store here, with Messiah's quasi-operatic vocals adding to the atmosphere. "Nightfall" includes several classic songs from Sweden's best band of the '80s: "Well of Souls," "At the Gallows' End," "Samarithan," "Dark Are the Veils of Death," "Mourner's Lament," and "Bewitched" all found themselves onto the best-of double CD ("As It Is, As It Was") in some form or other! The lyrics are also quite good, and so is the cover art, a painting called "Voyage of Life: Old Age" which I stumbled upon to my amazement at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. a couple of years ago.

Which ever you prefer, this is it. Slow ,heavy, memorable, simply one of the best doom metal albums ever made. Messaih is one of (if not the best) vocalist in all of metal.

I bought this album after reading what people had to say about it, but while i was wating for it to arrive, i bought TALES OF CREATION. Now that i have both i think i prefer TALES. I think the production is a little better and the songs on TALES are a little more catchier. WARNING!!!! DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THE SELLER, 'IMPORT_CD'S' !! I ordered this cd from them on March 26th and i still don't have it! They took my payment that day and i live 30 min from them! I bought it (again) at my local record store. So i would recomend only purchase it through Amazon.

Absolutely the best death metal I've EVER heard. Precise, well-crafted tunes, excellent arrangements and production, soaring vocals, superb musicianship. I am a lifelong musician and I can really appreciate when things are done well. Metal has never been done better than this.

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.

Light the candles, take a right past the musty dungeon, and enter unholy sulfur-ridden hell. Candlemass' second album "Nightfall" is one of the doom genre's most credible entries of all time despite its' Sabbath meets early Angelwitch bleakness. A suitable soundtrack to an abrupt ill-timed funeral, Nightfall plods along like slow death itself yet does so in a highly accomplished manner. Leif and his crew of heart-charcoaled Swedes have a clear and unmistakable slant towards all things cranially disturbing and have apparently spent one too many of the small hours worshipping at the gatefold sleeves of their 1970's Sabbath LPs. Let's not hold that against them however as the awesome power contained within the confines of all that is Nightfall is jaw-dropping and ear-turning to say the least. For all those wrought with over-bearing angst, hopelessness, futility and urgent thoughts of impending final suicide, this charming yet razorblade-less little opus is definitely for you. Don't say I didn't warn 'ya.