|
Genre |
Power/Heavy
Metal |
Simon Åkesson
|
Vocals
|
|
Tracks |
9 |
Pontus Åkesson
|
Guitar
|
|
Runningtime |
43 Min. |
Joakim Wiklund
|
Guitar
|
|
Label |
Lion Music |
Stefan Widmark
|
Bass
|
|
Release |
12 Sept.
2005 |
Marcus Sundquist
|
Drums
|
|
Country |
Sweden |
Tyler Voelz
|
Keyboards
|
|
Similar artists |
Stratovarius, Sonata
Arctica, Power Quest |
|
The Nightscape story began in the
year 2000 in the town of Skellefteå along the Baltic
Sea coast in northern Sweden. The founding members
Simon Åkesson and Joakim Wiklund had musical
education at college and one day during one of many
jamming sessions they came up with a few riffs and
recorded it on computer. The idea to start a band of
their own was born and even though five years have
passed the band still consists of really young
musicians, between the ages of 18- 20. That's not an
evident factor in their music though, since this has
a much more mature sound than you could expect when
looking at their birth certificates. But don't let
describing words like Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica,
Celesty, neoclassic inputs, Malmsteen inspiration
and happy symphonic metal be discouraging here dear
readers. Even though that's the kind of power metal
Swedish Nightscape deliver on their debut Symphony
of the Night I still urge you to keep reading. This
is namely no copycat getting down to business or
just another one of those mainstream bands
categorized as initially described. No, on the
contrary Nightscape is a six piece that has enough
quality and above all, a majority of great tracks
and an outstanding musicianship to really stand out
among the many other bands that are trying to go
down this beaten and overpopulated road.
From more neo-classical edged tracks
like the opening Haunted Hill and Curse and
Damnation to the speedy power metal numbers Higher
Than Life and Across the Sky and to more solely
happy metal songs like Home, Nightscape provide an
almost endless abundance of melodies and harmonies.
The band just doesn't seem satisfied until the
guitars and keyboards that work in perfect unison
have shifted between as many great melodies as they
can possibly can within each number. The guitar
playing by Åkesson and Wiklund shows serious proof
of extremely Malmsteen quick as lightening fingers
and also seriously good work in the more "standard"
playing this kind of metal usually contains. Very
often the tracks contain at least minute long
interludes and solo-sections and together they put
on a very good metal show. The symphonic keyboard
playing makes me think of Celesty but it's also
possible to draw some parallels to Power Quest when
the heavier fashion of this instrument is used. This
in aspect, Nightscape is therefore one of the bands
you ultimately also hope some day will release an
instrumental album even though the band also has a
very good vocalist. Simon Åkesson has a nice clean
soaring voice that more than once makes me think of
more well known singers like Michael Kiske and Timo
Kotipelto. Åkesson though really stays much more on
note and is not even close to Kotipelto's false and
out of tune parts which is a very relieving input.
He does sound a little more restrained in the verse
of the speedy The Serpent King and maybe he could
come up with a more varied repertoire next time but
otherwise he's certainly doing a great debut
performance. The production also follows the metal
pattern in this category with its crystal clear
features but maybe it could have seen a little more
power in the bass and drum sections. Otherwise it's
a very good one, more than sufficient for a debut
album and a very suiting atmosphere has been created.
This entire issue reminds me very
much of Timeless Miracle, not in musical aspects,
but in terms of freshness and new and positive vibe
I strongly felt this area of the metal scene really
needed with Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius not
nearly delivering at their peaks anymore. Light,
speedy and symphonic are three very good describing
words of Nightscape and the strong vitality
delivered really puts me in a very good mood. These
youngsters give the impression of having endless
potential and already have all the components
necessary to build something even better from based
on their solid and technical musical skills. Fans of
Sontata Arctica, Stratovarius, Virtoucity, Celesty
and Power Quest surely will get more than they
bargained for with this album. It's got enough class
and great compositions to really be a strong
contender for entering my top 10 list of the year.
Trust me here folks, it really is that good and not
only does Nightscape in many ways surpass their
counterparts in mainly Finland, they also set the
norm on how power metal in this category should be
delivered.
|
Production
|
Vocals
|
Compositions
|
|
8,5
|
7,5
|
8,5
|
| |
|
Summary
|
|
|
Related links:
www.nightscape.se
NIGHTSCAPE -
SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT
Lion Music
Contributed by Panu Koski
Sunday, 25 September 2005
80/100 |
www.imhotep.fi
One should not judge a record by its track listing.
Nightscape, a young power metal act hailing from
Sweden, tries to scare the record buying public away
with titles such as "The Haunted Hill", "Curse And
Damnation", and - believe it or not - "Merlin". Yes,
this is appallingly clichéd, not to mention
exhilaratingly naïve, but the songs themselves are
absolutely wonderful.
The nine tracks on offer are chock-full of
marvelous and uplifting melodies, and singer Simon
Åkesson's voice is tailor-made for this kind of
shamelessly joyous power metal. The omnipresent
beautiful melodies remind one of Swedish melodic
metallers Supreme Majesty, but with Nightscape the
tempo is naturally much faster. "Higher Than Life",
the aforementioned "Merlin", and the title track -
among many others - are all prime examples of how
enjoyable melodic power metal can be.
"Symphony Of The Night" shows that metal
definitely does not have to be all gloom and doom;
this is the type of music that makes one smile and
enjoy life for a brief moment, and isn't good music
supposed to do just that? With a debut album of this
caliber, one can't wait to hear what these Swedes
will come up with next time. While obviously not
perfect (what is?), "Symphony Of The Night" is
nonetheless a highly entertaining debut album.
(2005) 44 min.
|
Nightscape - Symphony Of The Night
(Lion Music) By: Joe Florez |
 |
More Swedish
neo-classical power metal continues to over populate the world
and scene. Nightscape (cool name by the way) make their debut on
the ever growing Lion Music label. “The Haunted Hill” sounds
just like you would imagine. Clean semi-high vocals from Simon
loaded with typical over saturated keys, but performed with
class and the pacing is just right. I have to say that while
they don’t offer anything new and they play it safe this is done
quite well. The musicianship is very tight and they do like to
venture out and get a little heavy at certain points, but it
works. “Higher Than Life” blew my mind not so much because of
the music, but the solo was just amazing. I was in awe by what
these cats are |
capable
of. It was just full of surprises in the sense that it wasn’t as
predictable as the rest of the music. “Home” is one of the best
tracks on here because the band takes a slightly different
approach toward songwriting. It’s not a duplicate of anything
you have heard either on here or anywhere else. There is a
consistent mid paced double bass drumming with the vocals
soaring to the heavens, but not in an obnoxious way and the
atmosphere provided is just incredible. It’s a real piece of
work. Overall, the band knows what they are doing, but they fall
into that trap where the music sounds like everyone else before
them. The potential for this five piece is endless and I know
that there is hope for them, but they have to get their act
together and come up with original material.
www.live4metal.com
|
|
BAND >> |
CD >> |
LABEL >> |
MARK>> |
|
NIGHTSCAPE |
SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT |
LION MUSIC (2005) |
78% |
|
Power metal fans should
check this band out! Fans of Stratovarius
and even Hammerfall and the likes, will
probably enjoy this new release. It's quite
hard these days to put out a power metal
record and sound unique and I don't think
that Nightscape's sound was so unique but
one things for sure is that this album got
strong songs that will stick in the head of
fans of the genre. The production is also
crystal clear and sound heavy as hell!
Another very good point is the powerfull
vocalist Simon Akesson. This guy can sing!
He's got a very strong voice, as strong as
the well know power metal singers you all
know! The keyboards, the strong guitar
melodies and the catchy chorus are a couple
of highlights you'll find in Symphony of the
Night. As I said, it's not sounding fresh &
new but this is solid symphonic metal that
definitly deserve attention!
www.thedarkesthours.com |
|
NIGHTSCAPE ‘Symphony Of The Night’ Lion Music (2005)
www.lionmuisc.com
Power metal is certainly the ‘in
thing’ in metal circles at the moment with magazines like ‘Terrorizer’
devoting whole issues to the genre and now we have this debut offering
from a young Swedish band. I am happy to report that after a few spins
this really is a rather decent album and one that fans of fast paced
melodic/power metal will like. It reminded me very much of Power Quest
and that band’s debut album and even in parts Dragonforce, mainly the
speed of the guitar solos from Joakim Wiklund. ‘Haunted Hill’ with its
Manowar style choir midway through and ‘Merlin’ are definate highpoints.
The only downside is the sheer speed of the whole album as it would have
been nice to have a mid-tempo number or even a ballad thrown into the
overall mix.
Nightscape are certainly a
band worth keeping an eye on, especially if you enjoy fast paced power
metal and it will be interesting to see how their second album turns out.
***1/2
Jason Ritchie
www.getreadytorock.com
