Review by illusionist for Candlemass - Nightfall (1987)

Doom Metal doesn't get any better

Candlemass' sophomore effort Nightfall is very close to being a perfect album. Though there are only six full songs, each is of the absolute highest quality you can find in the Metal genre. Soaring tragic-operatic vocals, riffs of pure theatrical evil, and climatic solos galore. The absolutely massive entrance of "The Well of Souls" after the build-up of "Gothic Stone" should tell you all you need to know. That moment sets the tone and Nightfall never relinquishes its powerful, ominous grip.

The aforementioned "Well of Souls" is perhaps the single best song of this band's career in this listener's opinion, but "Samarithan" and "Bewitched" are also masterpieces of the Doom genre that will never ever be matched. The other three tracks aren't far behind. Candlemass stick to their sound, but it's truly their own (they're the pioneers of Epic Doom) and they do it so fucking well. You can tell they are energized by the (at the time) new presence of Messiah Marcolin's pipes, which are an obvious highlight. The album doesn't get repetitive (a common problem in Doom) because the songs all have their own fascinating lyrical story that perfectly match their destructive or mournful riffs. Some gloomy instrumental interludes are also mixed in throughout to amplify the atmosphere to heights never reached on the debut. This is an - no, THE - essential of Doom. If you have any interest in the genre at all, you need to listen to this seminal release. 

I am the master of the ancient etude

I'll play for your joy, for your soul, for your doom

My fingers, they dance upon the strings like fire

Weaving a spell of my burning desiiiiire