Nightfall – Children of Eve
Release Date: 2nd May 2025
Label: Season of Mist
Bandcamp
Genre: Blackened Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Extreme Metal.
FFO: Rotting Christ, Septicflesh, Amon Amarth, Behemoth, Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Moonspell.
Review By: Rick Farley
You would think after three decades and essentially being one of the forefathers of the Greek metal scene, that a band would, at this point, just be content with phoning it in. Thankfully, these Hellenic pioneers, Nightfall, are returning with vengeance in their eyes to reclaim their throne atop the mountain of infectious extreme metal. A melodic but brutal blend of blackened death metal influenced with touches of goth, power metal and symphonic mysticism.
Since their formation in 1991, The legendary Athenian blackened death metal band sounds as infectious as ever, adding in huge production and a greater focus on epic sounding, unforgettable songs. You will be hard-pressed to not bang your head in glorious victory. Along with Rotting Christ and Septicflesh, Nightfall stands as one of the pioneering trinities in Greek metal. An achievement that should never be forgotten.
Children of Eve, the bands eleventh studio album, is set for release May 2nd, 2025, on the equally mighty Season of Mist. Full of monumental choruses and headbanging grooves, Children of Eve is an album that will be easy to enjoy by any type of metalhead. Hooky riffs from guitarist Kostas Kyriakopoulos are full of groove and swagger that border the brutal, the fast and the head stomping viciousness that makes this record so damn listenable. Snaky melodies blend with crunchy heaviness bringing intensity to each of the tracks, while catchy sing along choruses, growling with commanding cadence preparing you for the oncoming warring conflict. An ominous darkness looms over the record in the same way as killing hordes of enemies in a victorious battle. It’s brutish hell, bloody and nightmarish, but the spoils of victory are delightfully triumphant.
Opening track and first single, I Hate, takes aim at organized religion as if it’s a call to arms for a holy war. Its Mediterranean inspired, massive sing along choir during the chorus while vocalist Efthimis Karadimas roars his deathly growls, is ghostly yet alluring. The choir creates a trancelike mood, instantly digging deep into your soul. The powerful drums from Fotis Benardo pulverizing bone into dust with its heavy groove filled double bass, fast thrashy beats and cleverly placed fills. The opening track takes hold, refusing to let go of its wicked grasp.
Seeking Revenge increasingly builds from atmospheric female vocals and gothy synths to a chuggy mid paced death metal beating. Its crushing gallop relentlessly pounds on and on like a wave of war horses trampling over you.
Traders of Anathema screams with blackened tremolo bursts, raising its axis in honour of Judas Iscariot. One of the twelve apostles who’s infamous for betraying Jesus which ultimately lead to his crucifixion. It rages on with malicious intent, keeping its rapid pace but employing lower bass foundation from Vasiliki Biza often enough to create tension within the track.
I’m not quite sure where Children of Eve stands in their discography just yet, but I can assure you it’s chock-full of metal that will still continue to be good long after your first listen. It’s insanely memorable with strong songwriting that will appeal to lots of distinct types of metal heads. It’s accessible while still being brutal. Certain records just come out where you just keep listening to them over and over again, simply because they fucking jam. This is one of those. It’s not going to blow you away with genre innovation or really anything new sounding, but it will surely blow your speakers up. Check it out.
(3.5 / 5)
