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Life
can be good sometimes! Once I opened the postbox of Jany and look
what I found? A CD of Nightfall, a Greek band in old Paradise Lost
tradition, a favourite of mine for years. All their CD’s can be
found in my collection. But I am a little surprise to find Nightfall
on Black Lotus Records now. They used to be one of the emblems of
Holy Records, as I remember well. But this Greek fraternity brought
up the artist in them again. This is a killer CD! It looks like
Nightfall finally came home after the searching years of ‘Diva
Futura’ and built there eagle hole in the high-spirited Athens.
We
start with some history lessons. More than ten years ago, it was
singer/bass player Efthimis Karadimas who founded Nightfall with
‘Parade Into Centuries’ in 1992 as a first release. The melodic
death metal of the first releases will be too heavy for progressive
rock fans like you, but to people with an open view on music,
‘Macabre Sunsets’ (1993) and ‘Athenian Echoes’ (1995) are highly
recommended. Success came with the release of ‘Lesbian Show’ in 1997
when some modern loops and melodic parts adorn the music. Next
release ‘Diva Futura’ (2000) even sounded more accessible.
Then
silence came, and it is 2003 before we can welcome them again. And
how! This time of reflection had a positive impact. There were some
line up changes but it seems as if Nightfall eventually made a
synthesis from everything they ever did. Efthimis is still the
captain of this ship, in so far that he produced this CD in the Tico
Tico Studio in Finland. And he colours the strong compositions with
his variant effective voice.
‘Death of Neira’ starts with floating keyboards over our head,
melodic guitar interventions and a growling voice. Yet it has a
flowing atmosphere and sudden impact. Each song has indeed it’s own
characteristics. In ‘The senior lover of Diamanda’ this is a
centrepiece like threatening clouds above the Mount of Olives and
catchy vocals haunted by intriguing guitar picking. ‘I am Jesus’ is
a provocative statement that needs a rougher musical ornament (like
the phenomenal guitar solo within).
But
also during softer parts this band strikes back in a glorious way.
‘Pale crescendo of diamond suns’ is a half spoken and mystical sung
hymn, escorted by a sober palette of keys and echoes. ‘Luciferin…’
has a tricky rhythm reminding me a bit of the latest Darzamat CD and
InDread Cold by the horror whispering voices. Sometimes there are
some flirts with electronic loops but these breaks fit naturally in
the rest of the song. Try to be not impressed by its outro! Careful
expanding as the surrounding universe. Or listen to the joyful
melodies of the keyboards in ‘Muscat darkdark road’ flowing like the
juice of the pressed Muscat grapes that will purify abundant these
throats of the Athenian pollution. These same keys take a drastic
turn in ‘I’ve never dreamt the life we share’, as if Eno dropped in
on the sly.
And
this quality even goes up when we approach the end of the CD.
‘Treasures in Aramaic tears (echelon)’ has sharp spoken fragments
again (I’m fond of it!) but we also notice the influence of My Dying
Bride in the monumental guitar walls and hovering intermezzo’s. All
solemn and intense. At last we arrive at the two absolute killer
songs of this creation, where words cannot describe this magic
potion (but come on, let’s give it a try).
‘Semana tragica’ has a minutely construction, starting with humble
guitar sounds, an eruption with a great grunt and a dragging rhythm
that floats on the ever present keys. Even this time we’ve got a
break with spoken words accompanied by a freaky guitar and some
whisperings. I think again on InDread Cold but it is absolutely
impossible that both bands would have had an influence on each
other. This dark mood is nicely accented in the last track
‘Nightfall’, starting with dark keys and unfolding like the first
daffodils in spring. Leaf after leaf unfolding in the moonshine of
the waxing night. Then coming to life with a prehistoric scream and
shivering guitars. Sublime! When I have to give an indication it has
to be Tiamat in the past for this is a product full of spherical
moods and modest passion. For me it is the best Nightfall CD ever! |
