Nightfall
Candlemass · 1987
46 min · 10 tracks · epic doom metal
Gloomy riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, creating a sweeping soundscape that defines epic doom metal's atmospheric depths.
Top tracks — play these first
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At the Gallows End — This track exemplifies Candlemass's signature blend of heavy riffs and melancholic melodies, showcasing frontman Messiah Marcolin's powerful vocals and dramatic storytelling.
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Dark Are the Veils of Death — With its haunting lyrics and epic structure, this song encapsulates the essence of doom metal, combining sorrowful themes with a grand musical arrangement.
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Gothic Stone Start here — Opening the album with a striking riff and atmospheric elements, this track sets the tone for Nightfall, establishing its dark and immersive sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Nightfall showcases strong compositions and a distinctive sound that solidified Candlemass's influence in doom metal.
What we noticed
- The album features lengthy tracks, with most exceeding five minutes, allowing for extended development of musical themes.
- Riffs are layered with melodic leads that create a dense atmosphere, particularly in the opening track 'Gothic Stone'.
- Several tracks incorporate tempo shifts, moving from slow, heavy sections to faster passages, enhancing the dramatic effect.
- The use of choral backing vocals in 'Marche Funebre' adds an epic quality that complements the main vocal lines.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies for introspection
- dynamic progression with emotional peaks
- epic soundscapes for late nights
- cathartic release through heavy riffs
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, fast-paced tracks
- prefer short, standalone songs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified their status in the epic doom metal genre, gaining wider recognition.
- Themes
- dark medieval imagery· gallows fate
- Career context
- Released in 1987, Nightfall was Candlemass's third album and solidified their status as pioneers of the epic doom metal genre. This album followed their critically acclaimed debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, and showcased a maturation in songwriting and thematic depth.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Solitude Aeturnus· My Dying Bride· Paradise Lost
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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At the Gallows End
The narrative shifts to a first-person perspective, confronting mortality directly.
Tracklist
- 1 Gothic Stone Start here 4:31
- 2 The Well of Souls 3:45
- 3 Codex Gigas 2:20
- 4 At the Gallows End 5:48
- 5 Samarithan 5:29
- 6 Marche Funebre 2:22
- 7 Dark Are the Veils of Death 7:08
- 8 Mourners Lament 6:10
- 9 Bewitched 6:38
- 10 Black Candles 2:18
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Turn Loose the Swans
My Dying Bride
Shares the same dark, gothic atmosphere and themes of sorrow and existential despair.
Gothic
Paradise Lost
Similar intertwining of heavy riffs with haunting melodies, exploring dark romanticism.
Serenades
Anathema
Features a blend of atmospheric doom with melancholic melodies and introspective lyrical themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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