Nightingale was born in the mid nineties as the
personal universe of Dan Swanö, a musician
who had already carved a name in extreme metal with Edge
Of Sanity & Bloodbath and later
through work with Opeth and Katatonia. Nightingale moved in a different
direction, rooted in dark rock with progressive touches and melodic
storytelling. “The Closing Chronicles”, originally released in 1996, was the
moment when Dan’s brother, Dag Swanö, stepped inside the project for good.
The album expanded Nightingale’s early
blueprint and soon became one of the band’s most beloved works. Almost three
decades later, it returns remastered, sounding refreshed without losing its
original character.
This new
edition of “The Closing Chronicles” brings the album back to circulation with
stronger definition and a warmer presence than the old version. The main disc
holds the original songs, from “Deep Inside Of Nowhere” to the long journey of
“Alive Again”. The writing still shows Dan Swanö at
a point where he was combining melodic rock with dramatic storytelling, keeping
things grounded while allowing emotion to run through the compositions. Dag Swanö’s guitar lines support this direction
with a steady hand, giving the album a clear identity. The songs keep their
theatrical tension, carried by Dan’s baritone
voice and a melodic sensibility that was already well developed by 1996.
The second
disc spreads across different periods. “The Childhood Chronicles” offers early
sketches and ideas, giving listeners a window into the roots of the album’s
concept. The 2025 versions of “Intermezzo” and “Alive Again” present updated
interpretations with a more modern sound, handled carefully so the originals
remain the backbone. The live tracks bring a raw and unfiltered charm, showing
how Nightingale used these songs on stage
with a tighter approach. The demos close everything with rough edges intact,
reminding us how these ideas began before they took final shape.
This
reissue doesn’t simply repackage old material. It reopens a chapter of Nightingale that many listeners have wanted to
revisit for years, doing so with respect for the album’s original soul. “The
Closing Chronicles” still carries that melancholic charm, a mix of rock
storytelling and melodic richness that has aged gracefully. For longtime fans
it is a welcome return, and for new listeners it serves as a clear introduction
to a unique corner of Dan Swanö’s long
career.
Score: 8.0
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