Description
Candlemass – Nightfall – Vinyl Record
Nightfall is the second studio album by Swedish doom metal band Candlemass, released in 1987. This album is particularly significant as it marks the introduction of vocalist Messiah Marcolin, whose operatic style became a defining element of the band’s sound and one of the iconic voices of doom metal.
Nightfall is a quintessential doom metal album, characterized by its slow tempos, thick, heavy riffs, and dark, brooding atmospheres. The album solidified Candlemass’s role in shaping the doom metal genre, following their critically acclaimed debut, ‘Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.’ With ‘Nightfall,’ the band refined their sound, blending the heaviness of Black Sabbath-inspired riffs with intricate compositions and lyrical narratives drawn from gothic and fantastical themes.
The album opens with ‘Gothic Stone,’ a brief instrumental that sets a somber tone, leading into ‘The Well of Souls,’ which is often hailed as one of the band’s best songs. This track showcases the band’s ability to blend melodic hooks with heavy guitar work. Another standout track, ‘Bewitched,’ not only exemplifies Candlemass’s style but also became one of their most recognized songs, featuring powerful vocals and memorable guitar solos.
‘Mourner’s Lament’ and ‘Samarithan’ are further highlights, both rich in emotional depth and lyrical storytelling, with the latter track drawing upon biblical themes to create a poignant narrative of suffering and redemption.
Upon its release, Nightfall was met with positive critical acclaim, quickly becoming a landmark album in the doom metal scene. Its success helped to establish Candlemass as one of the leading bands in the genre, influencing countless other groups within metal.
Critics and fans alike praised the album for its cohesive sound and dramatic flair, with Messiah Marcolin’s theatrical vocal delivery receiving particular acclaim. His voice, combined with Leif Edling’s songwriting and the band’s tight musicianship, created a powerful and distinctive sound that would define Candlemass and influence the direction of doom metal for years to come.
Nightfall is often considered one of the best doom metal albums of all time. It played a crucial role in the development of the genre, particularly in how it combined epic storytelling with the traditional doom metal framework. The album’s impact is seen in its widespread influence on the genre, inspiring a new generation of metal bands to explore slower tempos, atmospheric intensity, and lyrical depth.
For fans of metal and particularly for those interested in the evolution of doom metal, Nightfall is a seminal work that offers a perfect blend of musical heft and emotional resonance, embodying the dramatic potential of metal music.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Gothic Stone
The Well Of Souls
Codex Gigas
At The Gallows End
Samarithan
Marche Funebre
Dark Are The Veils Of Death
Mourners Lament
Bewitched
Black Candles
