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Nightingale - Nightfall Overture - The Ten Year Anniversary Album CD (album) cover

NIGHTFALL OVERTURE - THE TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY ALBUM

Nightingale

Progressive Metal


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UMUR
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Nightfall Overture is a best of/ compilation of songs from the first four studio albums from Swedish progressive rock/ metal act Nightingale ( The Breathing Shadow (1995), The Closing Chronicles (1996), I (2000) and Alive Again: the Breathing Shadow part IV (2003)). Nightfall Overture is not your average best of collection though as all songs have been re-recorded for the occasion and in addition to the songs from the first four studio albums there´s also a re-recorded version of Losing Myself ( an Edge of Sanity song from the 1997 Infernal album) and a new song called Better Safe Than Sorry. Each of the four studio albums are represented by two songs which means that there are a total of ten songs on Nightfall Overture.

The music is melodic progressive rock/ soft metal with an occasional hard rock drive but also with some neo progressive elements. Nightingale have always had their own sound IMO. Dan Swanö´s vocals have always been the center of Nightingale´s sound and he really gets to showcase his more mature vocal range on these re-recordings. The biggest asset on Nightfall Overture is that we get to hear some of the older songs in new versions ( Especially the two songs from The Breathing Shadow which had programmed drums in their original form). The song selection is pretty good even though I wouldn´t have chosen I Return and Alonely from the I (2000) album. But I guess they represent the more mellow/ ballad type songs from Nightingale. Glory Days from Alive Again: the Breathing Shadow part IV (2003) is one of my favorites from the band so I´m happy it´s been included here. The Edge of Sanity cover is pretty good while I´m not too happy about the new song Better Safe Than Sorry which has some pathetic/ broken romance relationship lyrics that ruins that song for me.

The musicianship is excellent and I´m actually really impressed with Dan Swanö´s performance here.

The production is good but it´s an aquired taste if you like this sound better than the sound on the original albums. Personally I prefer the original productions even though some of them are questionable at best.

Nightfall Overture is a great best of/ compilation album that´s actually worth purchasing and I´m seriously considering giving the album 4 stars. There are a few weaker moments that drag the album down just enough for me only to give it 3 stars though. If you´re new to Nightingale this could be a great place to start, but for us old fans who enjoy the original albums as they are this is more of a must have fan item.

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Posted Saturday, December 27, 2008 | Review Permalink

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