The mix is a bit on the brickwalled side unfortunately and, although this doesn't destroy the experience, I would have preferred a more roomy recording. "Meteors" is one of the most interesting tracks, featuring a part with some off-kilter drumming underneath a bluesy solo, while "Martyrs Of The Cult Of The Dead (Agita)" is the catchiest tune with the vocals following the lead guitar in the chorus in a way that sticks in your mind like a chewing gum. From the excellent "Witches" onward, the music gets doomier and this doom leans more on the deadly, melodic, or ritualistic side, depending on which song you are listening to. The song sequence is smart with the first couple of tracks - after the short intro - being the real bangers that get you hooked "Killing Moon" is brilliantly played, fast and melodic death metal, while "Darkness Forever" is a thrashy motherfucker, and a bit uncommon for Nightfall.
They also add to the general gothicness of the atmosphere. The latter appear in various forms and often sound like voices in the head of someone experiencing mental suffering. The growls are deep and expressive, and they are a staple connecting the songs, also marking an attractive contrast with the female vocals. The rhythm section is also very strong and there are some pretty interesting things happening on the drum kit. The songs are based on gritty riffs, played with a guitar tone that is heavy and thick, while the leads are memorable and give each track its own distinctive character. There is anger, fury, sadness, frustration, and even hope. Thankfully, the music in this album is not a linear sadboi soundtrack, but instead it tries to capture the range of moods, feelings, and reactions of someone who experiences depression. Depression isn't simply 'a state of feeling sad' it represents anger that is directed toward the self or turned inwards. Thematically, the focal point of At Night We Prey is depression, a monster that Efthimis had to fight against and, hopefully, beat. The other two musicians are the drummer and producer Fotis Benardo, who has been involved with more bands than I can count, and guitarist Kostas Kyriakopoulos, who is also member of The Slayerking (do check them out, their doom is worthy of your time). Nightfall's heart and soul, Efthimis Karadimas, has reunited with guitarist Mike Galiatsos, so the band currently has 50% of its original members. They have been through a lot during the past three decades but they now have a new line-up and a promising future with Season of Mist.
In fact, Nightfall were a bigger band than both of them in the beginning and they were the first to sign an international deal. You may think that Rotting Christ and Septicflesh pioneered the Greek extreme metal scene - and they did indeed - but they were not alone. The one that doesn't sound like power metal if you remove the growls. The one that embraces melody without sailing the seas of cheese. This right here is the melodic death metal that I prefer.
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