Nightfall established a unique trademark in the early 1990s, along with Greek symphonic and atmospheric death metal masters SepticFlesh. Musically, these two bands weaved and masterfully crafted an unrivaled and one-of-a-kind brand of music, differentiating them from each other. From the classic era, Nightfall released essential albums like “Parade into Centuries”, “Macabre Sunset”, and “Athenian Echoes”. Their mid-discography albums presented diverse and symphonic melodic black metal influences on studio albums like “Astron Black and the Thirty Tyrants” and “Cassiopeia”, proving that the band’s legacy continued.

The eleventh studio album wields the gothic stylization of Nightfall and marks the darkest chapter in the musical achievement that fills the craving. Where the previous album “At Night We Prey” took a modern and fierce blackened death metal approach, the composition on this album is somehow similar; at the same time, the songs embrace and recapture the gothic facet of its music with a female chorus and dark atmosphere being placed in every song.

“Children of Eve” starts with a grand musical peak, setting a sinister and mid-paced blackened riffs on the opening song “I Hate” offers plenty of epic moments before the stomping riffs explode into furious drumming.

The menacing elements integrate eerie choir and combine black metal tremolo guitars, brutal growling vocals the drumming work of Fotis Benardo climaxes on “The Cannibal”, focusing heavily on catchy and fantastic melodic sections and epic soaring choruses.

The sinister guitar riffs emphasize the aggressive side of Nightfall, as the music is replete with majesty and grandiose rhythm, imbuing a dark quality to songs like “Lurking” plunges the listener into the realm of horror and mythology of ancient Greece; the colossal effect of the guitars blends energetic riffs and heavy grooves beautifully arranged to give you the feeling of Goosebumps.

The guitars hold a tight grip, providing sheer aggression that tackles galloping riffs and a catchy sense of rhythm saturating the dark composition on “Inside My Head.” The song features powerful dynamics from the blistering blackened riffs to the obscure vocals, contributing to the haunting atmosphere, thus adding another layer to this grand musical experience. Nightfall returns with a triumphant album that depicts the rich gothic style and deep melodic essence.

The album isn’t parallel to the band’s previous album; the Greek titans display remarkable musicianship on “Children of Eve”. The guitars are brutal and embody the extreme melodic style. The unique song arrangements on this album don’t rely on symphonic and orchestral elements; instead, the band this time utilizes majestic choruses.

The melodic embellishments bring memorability to these songs, “Seeking Revenge” and “For the Expelled Ones”. These melodies have a crucial role in creating a unique atmosphere of the music to hone an atmospheric richness, showcasing the creativity of the guitarist Kostas Kyriakopoulos. The dark vocalization of Efthimis Karadimas, along with siren choruses of Fotis Benardo, enhances the catchiness of the songs.

The album also includes brutal blackened death metal tracks like “The Traders of Anathema”. The songs are consistently engaging, embodying a dark gothic atmosphere to deliver what you’d expect on “With Outlandish Desire to Disobey” is beautifully composed. The atmospheric qualities are honed to perfection and layered with excellent guitar riffs and melodies, and even the elegant female vocals contribute to the superb dynamic set.

“The Makhaira of the Deceiver” immerses you in darkness and melancholy; the gloomy guitars, pounding drumming, and catchy melodies make these galloping paces full of memorable hooks. The ominous moments fit perfectly in each of the ten tracks, and there is an excellent aspect to the songwriting that pulls you back to classic 90s gothic death metal.

The excellent guitar work saturates a rich gothic tone on the final track, “Christian Svengali”. The obscure vocals intertwine as they adeptly combine infectious and epic passages, infusing catchy melodies and haunting song structures.

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