An Interview With Efthimis Karadimas of Nightfall

Photo Credit: Marios Theologis/Math Studio

Written By Christy Norris

For over three decades, Nightfall has stood as one of the pioneering forces of Greek metal, forging a legacy. With their eleventh studio album, Children of Eve, the Athenian titans return with their most powerful and unrelenting work yet. An album that blends massive, gothic-infused blackened death metal with deeply personal themes of pain, resilience, and rebellion.

At the helm of this musical storm is Efthimis Karadimas, Nightfall’s founding vocalist and creative force, whose raw intensity and fearless lyricism have defined the band’s evolution. In this interview, Efthimis opens up about the making of Children of Eve, the energy that fueled its creation, and Nightfall’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health through their initiative, Metal Music Against Depression (MMaD).

Join us as we dive into the shadows with Efthimis Karadimas, exploring the depths of Children of Eve, the band’s legacy, and why this album is set to unite souls everywhere.

Hello, Efthimis! It’s an honor and a privilege to sit down with you to discuss your latest musical offering, Children of Eve, which we absolutely love here at Metal Lair.

Efthimis: Hey, that’s wonderful to hear. Thank you very much.

ML: Nightfall emerged alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh as part of the “Greek Metal Trinity.” If your band was an ancient Greek mythological figure, which one would it be and why?

Efthimis: Centaur definitely. I love horses. I wouldn’t mind being one, with all benefits this will have on my body.

ML: You’ve been through different eras of the metal scene. What’s one thing you miss from the early days and one thing you’re grateful has changed?

Efthimis: I miss the unconventional attitude of the Underground days. DIY, wild experimentation, new ideas, etc., have all played an essential role on how the metal scene has evolved. I am grateful for the good live sound of today; technology has been very kind to our genre.

ML: Having signed an international record deal before your peers, did you feel a responsibility to represent Greek metal on a global stage? How has that shaped your approach over the years?

Efthimis: Absolutely! If that project had failed, no other label from France would have tried investing money and time in the Greek scene. It was a brave move from the French label back then and I ‘m very proud we delivered. Sometimes, we do things that later on become real game changers. That gives me the courage to keep on trying new things to this day.

ML: The title Children of Eve suggests a unifying but also tragic concept. Do you view the album as more of a lament, a rebellion, or something else entirely?

Efthimis: The concept of the album unfolds like an Ancient Epic. Greeks are very much influenced by Homer; we learn his poems in school and that is imprinted on us forever. There’s failure, mourning, lament, rebellion, and every element that characterizes human nature. Children of Eve is about the unity of mortals against organized religions that take advantage of people who are in need to believe in something. We respect the religious and spiritual beliefs of others, we respect both their right to believe what they want and their right to not be questioned about it. But it is no longer tolerated to let religious leaders and their affiliate politicians to implement old solutions to current problems. Take for example what’s going on with the issue of abortion. It is unacceptable to deal with a sensitive matter like this with arguments that are based on writings and rules of the past. Let women decide. The album starts with “I Hate” where after the initial lament of the 10-title phrase, it actually conveys the message behind the lyrics- kicks in violently, by describing that epic moment when one says enough is enough with deception, and in an action of rebellion grabs his sword and kills the “guardian angel” who lured them with promises about eternal life and all those funny things religion leaders use to promote their own agendas.

ML: You wear a black mask covering half your face, symbolizing the invisible weight depression. If the mask could speak, what would it say?

Efthimis: Very good question. It would say, “Don’t judge me, it’s not my choice.” Mental Health is a very serious issue and if societies fail to address it properly, without prejudice, it will lead to no good. I am talking about the social part of the problem, and not the clinical; the latter is already in the good hands of science. The former however, lies entirely onto the misconception of large parts of the society. Take for example the decision of Pentagon about not giving the Purple Heart medal to soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological conditions caused in combat, but only to those that have suffered physical wounds. This is absolutely unfair.

ML: Religious themes are often tackled in metal, but Children of Eve seems to come from a deeply personal place. Was there a particular moment or event that intensified your critique of organized religion?

Efthimis: Europe is dealing with a massive influx of people from Muslim countries; people who seek a better life. The problem starts when a minority of radicals try to apply their ethics and religious views on our free and inclusive societies. The fact that their religious leaders use these poor peoples beliefs to implement their agenda is unacceptable. Even worse, it gives an alibi to domestic radicals here to react in aggressive ways. Slowly, but violently we witness an unofficial holy war taking place. And that’s against arts, science, human rights and progress. We shall never underestimate the power of a radical believer who sees the world through bigotry. Recent events in middle east need no explanation. You see there in both camps some radicals causing havoc, and the majority caught in between, suffering from others’ deeds.

ML: You describe this album as having “huge choruses” and “a massive sound.” Was there a moment during production when you realized you had created something truly monumental?

Efthimis: When I brought the demos of the songs to the band, I knew this thing will work best with a producer like Jacob Hansen. His skills in working with big choruses led me to the decision to ask him to do the mix for us.

ML: Children of Eve is your most hook driven album. How do you balance melody with aggression without losing the band’s core identity?

Efthimis: Unlike our recent releases, in Children of Eve we avoided multi layering. We gave more room to the rhythm section, including rhythm guitars, and let one main melody to lead. That space let the sound breathe.

ML: Jacob Hansen has worked with artists across metal’s diverse spectrum. What sonic qualities did he bring out in Nightfall that might have surprised you?

Efthimis: I am not sure I can determine what exactly he did sound-wise but I know his input gave the songs an audio identity that suits Nightfall right now. There were no surprises as I am always on top checking every step of the process. There’s joy about the final outcome. Well, joy, right, that might be a nice surprise to us, indeed.

ML: Metal is often seen as an outlet for anger and pain. What’s one misconception about depression that metal can help break down?

Efthimis: The first misconception about depression is that it is about negative feelings or feeling blue, because of a negative event in your life or something. It is not. Clinical depression is what we want to bring to the attention of the people in the scene. We wanna fight the social stigma, the fear of rejection or isolation and everything about “toxicity”. I see people naming others as “toxic”, calling for cancelling them, dropping them, etc. This is horrendous. There’s no scientific term named “toxic”. It’s yet another stupid idea to discriminate against people, based on our feelings and intentions. I am standing by these people who struggle with demons in their minds and are not in state to ask for help, but rather scream and react like a beaten stray dog, even to friendly calls. They need compassion and support.

ML: Nightfall has set in motion a new campaign called Metal Music Against Depression (MMaD) thats about fostering open discussion. Have you received any fan responses in relation to this movement?

Efthimis: We are close to the end of the beginning my friend. I tried to make the extra mile towards the end of social discrimination against people who deal with mental health, by getting in touch with European Alliance against Depression in Germany, back in 2020. Finally, my initiation of MMaD got approved and it is backed by them. So, recently we’ve launched an account on Instagram (metalmusicagainstdepression) where we’re gonna post inspiring videos from people in the metal scene. The aim here is rather simple, to inspire people and let them stand firmly on their feet. If you or a friend wants to participate, please be our guests.

ML: Nightfall has always evolved. If you had to describe what the band’s sound might be in five years using only three words, what would they be?

Efthimis: Euphonious, vibrant, solid.

ML: What’s one thing you’ve never done musically that you’d love to explore in the future?

Efthimis: I love what we were doing with The Slayerking. That project was too expensive to sustain, indeed but I’d love to bring it back to life. Songs like Queen of Sheba Undresses before Pulsating Chords need a follow up, definitely.

ML: If Children of Eve were turned into a film, who would direct it, and what would its tagline be?

Efthimis: The tagline would be “Faith is a personal matter, but it can become a dirty business” and would be directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

ML: For those who are discovering Nightfall for the first time, which song from Children of Eve (or your catalog) would you recommend as the perfect introduction to your sound, and what makes it a defining track for the band?

Efthimis: Thanks for asking that. I thought about it a few years ago, and the answer was Ishtar (Celebrate Your Beauty). That song, originally written and released back in 1995, carries everything about Nightfall. From the atmosphere, the tempo changes and the furious riffing to the lyrical concept and the ways music and vocals unfold are 100% typical Nightfall art. That’s why we made a video of its newer version in 2021, to announce our return.

ML: Let’s say I’m walking into a record store, and I pick up Children of Eve and you magically appear in a puff of smoke like a metal genie. What’s your narrative to describe this album?

Efthimis: I would tell you, Man, you just bought an album with great choruses you can sing along to; you will headbang to its manic riffing; and you get a social message to think about. That’s what I would have said to you. I love the days when rock albums conveyed a social message.

ML: If you could send Children of Eve back in time to any historical era to be the official soundtrack, which period would you choose and why? Would it be fueling ancient battles, a dystopian future, or something even more unexpected?

Efthimis: I would place it in a time frame right after the establishment of the three Abrahamic religions. That’s because these nest the most radical views that ultimately affect us all today, whether believers or non-believers.

ML: Imagine Children of Eve gets an unexpected celebrity endorsement. Who is the last person on Earth you’d expect to publicly declare their love for the album, and how do you think they’d describe it?

Efthimis: I love Clint Eastwood. He might well say: I dig Children of Eve, for it is lethal like a bullet in the brain, and huge like the emotional pain that comes after.

ML: Any last words for your fans?

Efthimis: Thank you all for supporting Nightfall. Looking forward to playing live in the States soon and having the chance to meet each other.

ML: Thank you so much for talking with us. Its been a real pleasure!

Efthimis: I am honored. The pleasure is all mine!

Pre-order Children of Eve & Pre-save:

Cover Art: Eliran Kantor

Children of Eve Track Listing:

1. I Hate
2. The Cannibal
3. Lurking
4. Inside My Head
5. Seeking Revenge
6. For The Expelled Ones
7. The Traders Of Anathema
8. With Outlandish Desire To Disobey
9. The Makhaira Of The Deceiver
10. Christian Svengali