review by: Roberto Martinelli

This album has finally grown on me. It took a bunch of years.

Whereas I thought the re-mastering of this album sucked at first, I now think it's pretty good. While the sound of it does at some times give you that unpleasant grating feeling in your gums that is unique to re-mastered works, overall it's a big improvement over the original issue. Chalk the blame up to the poor quality of the source tape, as re-mastering can only really make the original sounds louder and fuller, but also reveal the flaws more.

However, as is the case with all these disks, the real gems are to be found on the second, bonus disk. In this case, you get a demo version of "Bewitched" and the never released song "Battlecry," which is really a good tune. Also featured is a neat-o live cut of "Dark are the Veils of Death," along with studio outtakes of "Mourners Lament" and "At the Gallows End." However, the biggest prize on the bonus disk is the 25-minute interview with Messiah Marcolin, Leif Edling and Lars Johansson, as they talk about the early years of Candlemass' most definitive lineup: how Marcolin, the rabid Candlemass fan, harassed Edling everyday by phone to give him an audition, and then finally staged moving up to Candlemass' town; early tour stories with Slayer; and failed stage antics, like Marcolin's original idea about coming out of a coffin for every show. Truly hilarious and entertaining.

If you've never heard the album, Nightfall was the first of three albums to feature Marcolin, the band's heavy metal monk with an electric afro, on vocals. Marcolin's operatic, powerful voice has a signature that makes him an instant classic. The music you get is true heavy metal doom. No violins, no forced eye corner dabbing. Just kick ass songs with a great singer, really memorable and wonderful guitar soloing, and enjoyable songs. A totally worthy buy, even if (or, especially) you own the original release.