Year: 2025
Total Time: 43:17
Label: Season Of Mist
NIGHTFALL. One name, one story. Literally. The history of the Greek Extreme Metal scene and its widening abroad, with NIGHTFALL being the first Greek Extreme Metal band to sign a contract with a foreign label, more specifically with Holy Records back in 1991. Since then, have changed, with the Greek Extreme Metal scene being an important export and trademark of superior quality with NIGHTFALL, ROTTING CHRIST and SEPTIC FLESH forming the “Holy Trinity” of seafaring explorers. Do I sound romantic and a remnant of another era? I don’t even care, I am here sharing my thoughts and feelings while listening to the eleventh album by the Athenians entitled “Children Of Eve” which will be released at the 2nd of May, by the also French Season Of Mist Records….
NIGHTFALL’s strong point (apart from their heavy doom sound of course) has always been the lyrical delivery of the songs. In the single released a while ago “I Hate” with its dynamic heavy but at the same time fresh sound, NIGHTFALL’s mastermind Efthimis Karadimas made sure to deliver us his message that faith can be a personal and internal issue for everyone, but it never ceases to evolve into a big, dirty business. With the chorus cry “I am the son of night, notorious bastard!” and the band’s classical hooks, they mark the return of NIGHTFALL, which began with “At Night We Prey” in 2021.
The following track “The Cannibal” brings to mind the “Astron Black and Thirty Tyrants” and “Cassiopeia” eras, the characteristic tremolo of Kostas Kyriakopoulos is omnipresent and again Efthimis (forgive me for the familiarity, I don’t even know the man, but I feel like he’s my companion all these years) shows us how much DEATH’s “Spiritual Healing” influenced him with its powerful social message, so advanced for it’s time back then. How religious structures and fanaticism can reinforce dogmatism. “I hold the power, to explain your screams.” Plain and simple.
NIGHTFALL’s ability to introduce gothic elements without becoming the object of ridicule all these years is admirable. In “Lurking” the majestic chorus “I am a demon of darkness, The flesh I love, Redeemer of anger, A patron of holy wrath” haunts and dominates. The arrival of Fotis Benardo literally brought a breath of fresh air to the band, just like Vardaris wind, with his innovative ideas and his merciless yet precise hammering. This is exactly my objection regarding “Children Of Eve”, I would like more of his participation for a more drastic renewal. Listen to “Seeking Revenge” for example, it only reminded me of “Roots Bloody Roots?”, I will wait to talk about it again when the album is officially released. Listen to “Traders Of Anathema” with Kyriakopoulos’ double guitar solo and you’ll sizzle (go crazy, your hair will stand on end), listen to “With Outlandish…” and you’ll exclaim “LESBIAN SHOW” or even “The Makhaira of The Deceiver” which brings to mind “Athenian Echoes”.
“Children Of Eve” is a pure NIGHTFALL album, everything is reminiscent of the band’s history. The production by Fotis Benardo with the help of Thymios Krikos and Efthimis Karadimas is heavy but also crystal clear, the mixing by Jacob Hansen highlights a highly professional result. The fact that NIGHTFALL did not use the easy and inexpensive solution of A.I., but turned to the well-known Eliran Kantor (search for his works on the internet) shows that this time they aimed really high.
It is known that “At Night We Prey” carried the message of the fight against depression, and that Efthimis had been diagnosed with it. “When you have demons in your head you can’t be the ideal partner, the stigma you carry can lead you to isolation,” Efthimis tells us. “We can talk about it, sing about it, build a community of mutual understanding.” NIGHTFALL have now emerged (it’s never too late, though there was a big pause ) from the realm of Shadows to unite all the dark, tortured souls and make them speak. Freely, unaware and without hesitation.
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: NIGHTFALL – Official Page
