Band:	Nightfall
Album:	Cassiopeia
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	January 18, 2013
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Phaethon
02. Oberon & Titania
03. Colonize Cultures
04. The Nightwatch
05. Stellar Parallax
06. Hubris
07. The Reptile Gods
08. Hyperion
09. Akhenaton, The 9th Pharaoh Of The 18th Dynasty
10. The Sand Reckoner
11. Astropolis

Greeks have always had a fascination with the stars. Their ancient forebears glanced up at the night sky and decided upon themselves to give names derived from their mythological traditions to the constellations that they observed. One such name which remains with us today is Cassiopeia who was also a particularly self absorbed queen in Greek mythology. Melodic death outfit Nightfall's latest release, and second since their reformation in 2010, lyrically hinges on human arrogance and such conceited nature as that of queen Cassiopeia, which earned her a position over our heads as a constant reminder of our own vanity.

Constant is just the way to describe Cassiopeia. The album is of a strong and insistent stride which never recedes or falters, offering an unwavering sequence of melodies. What makes it particularly stellar is the range and clarity of the constituent stars within the constellation. Black, gothic and melodic death elements are firmly entrenched within each track and all are held together in their celestial positioning by a general, if a little understated, symphonic backdrop.

This is an album which might require a few readjustments of your telescope before you can see it at its clearest. Repeated listens offer the reward of coalescence of all identifiable genre specific elements integrated into the experience. The death growls add temper to the melodically accentuated mix of black and death metal guitar work placed to the fore over the gothic and symphonic sensibilities.

Some of these elements receive emphasis in tracks such as the stomp of "Hubris" which receives quick tempo shifts into symphonic black territory. The bold "Oberon & Titania" and album standard "Hyperion" reveals the overall incorporation of a Viking metal appreciation not dissimilar to that of genre compatriots Amon Amarth. As the particular genre specific emphases arise some of the stars within this constellation shine more brilliantly than others. The best material is to be found closer to the end of the record with the tighter amalgamation of elements taking place in tracks like "Akhenaton, the 9th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty" and "The Sand Reckoner."

However, Cassiopeia doesn't quite reach any unassailable heights and more or less bears a consistent if unvaried flow. Its predecessor Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants, while not being as of dense a sound as is the case with Cassiopeia, was more fluid in its blending of melodies to the more prominent and integral symphonic aspect. As such it held more of a resemblance to the sound of Greek brethren Septicflesh and the influence is less obvious in Cassiopeia as a result.

As a whole the album is not of the surprising kind but of one which gradually reveals its rigid mixing of genres which are well connected to a densely composed melodic death frame.