NightKill – Survive The Night (2025) *HQ Exclusive*
Athens-based new band NightKill make their debut with an album that delivers a strong first impression. Formed two years ago after vocalist Thodoris Martini’s departure from prog-metal act Solid Faith, the band introduces themselves with very well crafted songs firmly rooted in classic melodic metal with a bit of hard rock groove.
Titled “Survive The Night“, this is an album sure to please fans of the ’80s / ’90s style & sound from the genre. At first listen two are the main features that emerge. The first is the excellent Martini vocals – influenced by Jorn, Ronnie J Dio, Tony Martin – and then the stunning guitar work, either on riffs or solos. It goes without saying there’s other strong elements on the album, such as the the solid rhythm section and the potent polished production / clear mix.
With that type of voice and sharp guitar work, there’s soaring melodic heavy tunes here in the vein of Jorn solo, Axel Rudi Pell, DIO, even Skid Row’s heavier side at the most melodic groovy.
Opener, title track ‘Survive The Night’ is catchy, punchy and melodious, with a huge chorus, and a fine representation of what NightKill is all about. Check out the video below.
The chorus is catchy enough to stick in your head, and you’ll find yourself humming along. The song definitely nails its purpose.
Next up is ‘Lost Heaven’, which starts off with a super catchy intro and some nice guitar harmonies. It then settles into a chill verse with laid-back power chords and a calm vocal tone. But after the verse wraps up, that powerful riff from the intro comes back, followed by an even heavier riff that leads into the bridge. I caught myself nodding along, thinking, “Yeah, this is it!” The chorus comes in without any flashy tricks, perfectly structured with backing vocals supporting it nicely. It wraps up with that killer riff from the intro, and we’re ready for the next one.
The main riff of ‘The Only One’ took me straight to some Beverly Hills pool party on a Sunday morning, with empty beer cans and swimsuits floating around. It’s a strong, groovy track that fits right in on a playlist next to Skid Row recent material. Groove and powerful.
Next is the ballad on the album ‘Don’t give Up’, a midtempo metal track with a classy atmosphere but the guitars still bite. The chorus is big, with some Black Sabbath circa 1987 on it. Love the melodic clean solo.
Then comes ‘Devil’s Heart’, kicking off with a razor-sharp intro. As soon as the vocals come in, we dive into a galloping rhythm that’s a staple in metal music. There are some diminished passages in the bridge from the guitars, leading into a powerful chorus.
Next is ‘Keeper of Faith’, heavy without too much fluff in the riffs. There’s a lot of guitar tremolo which definitely adds a signature guitar sound along with those pinch harmonies. With ‘Never Surrender’ things shift a bit. It’s still in the same style as the album, but it has a twist. The verses flow smoothly like the previous ones, but the bridge features some double bass, and the chorus ventures into euro-power territory, elevating the song and giving the album a fresh twist that really boosts the listener’s experience. The vocals in the chorus are more dynamic, flawlessly delivered by Thodoris Martinis.
Last track up is ‘Queen of the Damned’. It kicks off with a heavy, crushing riff that flows nicely. The bridge stands out, and the chorus is super catchy—definitely a crowd-pleaser for sing-alongs at live shows. This one’s gonna be their music video too. It hits hard and relentlessly. Nothing can go wrong here.
Planted in classic melodic metal style with a clean sound, NightKill has recorded a stunning debut album here. Strong songwriting, top vocals, and expansive guitar work especially in the spots where they push themselves a bit further – they definitely nail it.
Highly Recommended
01 – Survive The Night
02 – Lost Heaven
03 – The Only One
04 – Don’t Give Up
05 – Devil’s Heart
06 – Keeper Of Faith
07 – Never Surrender
08 – Queen Of The Damned
Theodor Martinis: Vocals
Panos Pavlou: Guitars
George Mylonas: Guitars
Peter Jonathan Parker: Bass
Zois Psarakis: Drums
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