About
Our Roots
Nightfall founded in 1991 by Efthimis Karadimas. They were made to serve the apocryphal desire man has to conquer fear and explain darkness. The name Nightfall was adopted for its mystical meaning and for it is the most beautiful part of the day. When darkness takes over and eyes become less functional, giving way to fantasy.
the philosophical notion behind the newborn act.
First it was the demo; a tape under the title Vanity. The name perfectly reflected the philosophical notion behind the newborn act. Though there was an interest in social issues, main concept was about the soul of man and how it develops though the centuries. It was a handmade jewel with a weird collage decorating most of the layout with a rough logo. Overall it looked more like a DIY apparatus to help band cut its way through the hostile world rather than a release. This audio sample is the demo for the release of the upcoming album Parade into Centuries, it was stated somewhere inside tape’s inner sleeve. Name it pure wishful thinking or confidence, truth is there was no label behind the band at that time. It was December of 91.
Holy records entered the scene and offered a deal.
In January of 1992, Holy records entered the scene and offered a deal. The feeling of accomplishment was so intense the band immediately headed to the studio. The French label was the spiritual child of Severine and Philippe who were looking for a promising new act to start their journey in the music industry, as professionals. Nightfall and Holy very soon came to terms and debut release Parade into Centuries came to reality. A special album for three particular reasons: it was the debut of the band, the debut of the label and the debut of the entire Greek scene abroad. It was the first international metal release coming out of Greece entirely backed by a foreign label. Not a license or a thing distribution, but the real deal. Parade in Centuries was released in 1992.
Introducing a Greek metal band to the world was not an easy task. To many an exotic place and not dark enough to produce metal music, Greece had no track record in the international scene. Parade into Centuries sounded good and unique. It was original and, most importantly, had something to say. Public and press acknowledged the distinct sound and overall approach of the Athenians and welcomed the band by encouraging it to produce more. Holy records’ bet to pick an act from the “third” world of metal proved right and soon other French labels followed with the signing of more Greek bands. The gate was wide open. It may sound easy for the connected world we live in today, but back then it was a big thing to achieve as a band, and extremely difficult as well to correspond and deliver both for the band and the label. If something went wrong there would simply be no more.
Holy records entered the scene and offered a deal.
In January of 1992, Holy records entered the scene and offered a deal. The feeling of accomplishment was so intense the band immediately headed to the studio. The French label was the spiritual child of Severine and Philippe who were looking for a promising new act to start their journey in the music industry, as professionals. Nightfall and Holy very soon came to terms and debut release Parade into Centuries came to reality. A special album for three particular reasons: it was the debut of the band, the debut of the label and the debut of the entire Greek scene abroad. It was the first international metal release coming out of Greece entirely backed by a foreign label. Not a license or a thing distribution, but the real deal. Parade in Centuries was released in 1992.
Introducing a Greek metal band to the world was not an easy task. To many an exotic place and not dark enough to produce metal music, Greece had no track record in the international scene. Parade into Centuries sounded good and unique. It was original and, most importantly, had something to say. Public and press acknowledged the distinct sound and overall approach of the Athenians and welcomed the band by encouraging it to produce more. Holy records’ bet to pick an act from the “third” world of metal proved right and soon other French labels followed with the signing of more Greek bands. The gate was wide open. It may sound easy for the connected world we live in today, but back then it was a big thing to achieve as a band, and extremely difficult as well to correspond and deliver both for the band and the label. If something went wrong there would simply be no more.
it was obvious the band had more to offer
A few months after Parade into Centuries, the band released an unofficial 7” vinyl entitled Oh Black Queen, Oh You Are Mine with two new songs. Black metal is here and it was obvious the band had more to offer, yet not in the conventional way many would expect. Both tracks were wilder to their predecessor in terms of sound and writing and testified the way the band saw themselves as artists. Restless and wild. Reminds you of something? Nightfall meant to be more of an artistic vehicle based on instinct and free expression rather than a brand limited to the boundaries of a single genre.
Black and death metal recipe led to Macabre Sunsets in February 1994.
Fast, furious with experimentation flowing throughout, it was brutally rushed in as the most extreme follow up to a debut release ever. Doom sound, slow tempos and sad introvert lyrics gave way to extreme, provocative attitude and lots of noise amid black metal ingredients. The label got shocked and so did fans. However, none could blame anybody as the artistic flavors of Macabre Sunsets were topping all arguments. The band, which by that time seemed to have a solid line up, were asked to hit the road in the infamous Macabre Dance tour of 1994 across Europe. Things started to roll.
No limits. That release was merely a product of Macabre Dance tour
Having confronted their demons with Macabre Sunsets, band members entered the studio to record another ep, this time official, under the title Eons Aura Στον Ματιών σου Τη Μαύρη Μαύρη Αβυσσο ο Πόθος, το Πάθος, ο Θάνατος (In Your Eyes’ Black Abyss, Desire, Passion, Death). Next to the new original tracks stand two covers; Manowar’s Thor and Army of Lovers’ When the Gods Help Us All, with the latter to provokingly underline the fashion of art Nightfall have had in mind. No limits. That release was merely a product of Macabre Dance tour as tracks were inspired during the course of it. This ep has a very heavy and raw sound, yet much more conventional than the heretic Macabre Sunsets. It was recorded live in the studio. Definitely it was yet another statement that Nightfall would never cease to experiment with their sound.
Next stop is 1996 with a massive release that honored the city
Next stop is 1996 with a massive release that honored the city the band was coming from, Athens. Athenian Echoes succeeded in presenting what the band was all about within 40 minutes. This time in a gentle, mature way. Explosive parts are blending with moody ones and altogether unfold beauty. Continuous music in the likes of concept albums was built on a variety of vocal patterns, leads and tempos. Athenian Echoes production has become a milestone of the globally acclaimed Greek sound and it is ranked among the best releases of the 90s. Instead of the song lyrics Efthimis published his original poems where final lyrics came from. That way he believed fans would have the chance to experience band’s art directly from the source. Live shows followed the release along with a tour and an appearance next to Slayer in a new festival named Rock of Gods. That festival renamed to Rockwave next year and since then it is the most known and reputable music festival in Greece.
Heavier guitars and straight forward compositions took control
Commercial success of Lesbian Show and the tour that followed added more pressure to the band. It was time to take a serious decision as to if they would allow people’s expectations influence band’s next step or keep it artistically wild. Instinct prevailed once again and next album was prepared to serve more as psychotherapy rather than a regular step any band that’s aiming to commercial success would take. Diva Futura was recorded at Impuls studios in Hamburg, another great place to be. Of course it carried a great deal of experimentation too.
Both album and cd single Electronegative had a massive organic sound and remain an outstanding play even today, for people into dark rock in general.
next album was prepared to serve more as psychotherapy
Commercial success of Lesbian Show and the tour that followed added more pressure to the band. It was time to take a serious decision as to if they would allow people’s expectations influence band’s next step or keep it artistically wild. Instinct prevailed once again and next album was prepared to serve more as psychotherapy rather than a regular step any band that’s aiming to commercial success would take. Diva Futura was recorded at Impuls studios in Hamburg, another great place to be. Of course it carried a great deal of experimentation too.
Both album and cd single Electronegative had a massive organic sound and remain an outstanding play even today, for people into dark rock in general.
Newcomers were young people
Track Diva has been mistaken for Lordi’s some years later, when the Finnish became popular with Eurovision contest. After the tour, band kept quiet for some time before it appeared in Wacken festival in 2001. It was the first Greek band stepping on the stage of the legendary Wacken festival. Soon after that it went through lineup changes with Efthimis remaining the only original member.
Newcomers were young people whose career later would explode. George Kollias, George Bokos and Bob Katsionis teamed with Efthimis to record two albums.
The album has numerous good tracks
I Am Jesus was released in 2002 by a Greek label named Black Lotus. The album has numerous good tracks the band still plays live today. However technical problems mainly referring to promotion kept the album off certain regions. At the same time band’s decision to focus on studio productions and not live shows alienated many of its fans. I Am Jesus was an ironic title aiming to remind Christians that first they murdered their messiah and then they praised him and that using the tool of his martyrdom as the symbol of faith should at least make them more open and supportive towards minorities, new ideas and different opinions in general and of course mistakes. Forgiveness is a big word little people find too heavy. Album’s concept also well pointed towards misjudgment as major possibility in everyone’s life. The era of www, virtual reality and the wired future was at a rise and through the artwork the band played with the binary code of I and 0; the basis of programming languages. “I” in the front cover connects with the new virtual ecosystem that tends to become an online religion of fake hopes and scary messages.
Though band members discussed the possibility to tour and find a new home
Immediately after the release of I am Jesus the band started working on new material, leading to 2004’s Lyssa/Rural Gods and Astonishing Punishments again on Black Lotus. The album released amid label’s foreclosure, which practically left it without promotion. Though band members discussed the possibility to tour and find a new home, Efthimis remained firm and proposed everyone move on with their careers, meaning that it was time for a break. That was the end of second season for the band. It remained idle for about 6 years. Lyssa is a wild album with George Kollias pushing tracks towards faster patterns. All of them deliver a sense of obnoxious, stressful feeling that was apparent to everybody close to the band back then.
The outcome was very interesting old school death metal
In 2010 Nightfall enters its third season under the wings of the legendary Metal Blade records. Astron Black and the Thirty Tyrants was recorded with new international line up ranging from USA and Germany. The outcome was very interesting old school death metal with lots of doom passages. New band members were committed to make it work in terms of promotion and publicity but again the “studio productions-yes, live shows-no” policy remained intact. As a result tour offers turned down and gradually band isolated from the scene that was growing rapidly then. Astron Black and The Thirty Tyrants is an awesome album both inside and outside. Heavy shit for anyone into doom/death the old fashioned way!
Somewhere here season three ends.
Same international line up kept its promise to work hard in the studio and in 2013 Cassiopeia saw the light of day again on Metal Blade records. The album was massively acclaimed as one of the best Nightfall releases for a long time. A well balanced mixture of melody and heaviness. It was the first time in years a Nightfall release was so melodic and powerful at the same time, with many people asking about tour dates to see the band performing it live. But, again apart from some selective shows here and there no tour took place. As a German reviewer commented “it is pity this band will not tour and us dont have the pleasure to listen to these songs live. But, it’s a reality”. As its predecessor, Cassiopeia was recorded in Greece and Germany with the then drummer Jorg Uken mixing it in his Soundlodge studios. Lyrically the album was around the myth of Cassiopeia and her punishment. Somewhere here season three ends.
New chapter and line up in charge is working to bring Nightfall back on stages around the world. Stay tuned for more!
