Review: Fable "Long Hath The Night Dwelt"

Release date: 22/05/2026

4–6 minutes

The Nwothm

Dying Victims Productions presents the debut EP from Spain’s Fable, Long Hath the Night Dwelt, arriving on CD and 12” vinyl.

Fable began as the creative vision of Jose Soler (Phantom Spell, Chantrice), shaped by his deep connection to 70s and 80s hard rock and heavy metal. His influences span Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Pagan Altar, Ashbury and Hällas, with subtle traces of early US metal woven throughout. From these foundations, the band now step forward with their first official release, “Long Hath the Night Dwelt,” which spans 5 tracks over just 22 minutes!

Line-up: Drums, Guitars – Jose Soler Bass – Miguel M. Menárguez Vocals – Alberto de Lara

Artwork: Álex Bustillo

Review

Prelude is just under two minutes long and is narrated opening that introduces a cautionary tale of class tension and uprising, framing Fable’s story of woodland folk living under the rule of the Owl. In the background you get fuzzy guitars steadily strummed with long drawn notes presenting this eerie soundscape.

The Owl fades in with a flittering guitar before big beautiful harmonies sparkle and dazzle. The bass and guitar riffs bounce along on top of a skipping drum beat that has some character and flair. Alberto’s vocals melt into the music perfectly. Straight away I must note that music sounds like that classic hard rock/heavy metal era. The production, the tones who present this feeling of nostalgia and I love it. The whole track emotes harmonised guitar ideas that feel like they drenched in sunlight. And towards the end we are give a short acoustic passage to finish things off. Beautiful!

The Oak picks up the pace firing of a snare role before before we are given more glorious harmonised leads. The rhythm work here especially on the verses and bridges feels so warm leaving that fuzzy feeling on your stomach. One thing I particularly love is that I can hear Miguel’s bass lines grooving in the background. Sometimes this gets lost on the mix but not this time. The track is heavily charged by some magnificent lead guitar work which shows great skill. The vocal work is another great touch especially with the layering ultimately creating thick texture at all the right moments. There are some great moments where there are dynamic shifts and slight palm muting towards the later part of the song. Eventually landing on the crackle on fire and forest sounds.

The Funeral – March To The Black Mountain starts with slow hazy guitar strums and melodies setting the the tone for the song. It feels like someone waking up to the the sun breaking through the window. The soon enough we get a build up where the engines fire up and everything kicks in. This is another song where there is pace and loads of emotion being driving through every note played, every drum hit. Surprisingly It is an instrumentally as I am really getting into it it begins to fade.

The Moon plays with some panned and harmonised guitar ideas slowly revealing more and more. Eventually we drop in to a slow kind of trudging pace where everything swings around and throws its weight. The instruments are tight and locked in with bass and drums really driving everything forward. The guitar chords some times open up but these are mixed up with little licks. The vocals of Alberto once again really take centre stage and you really feel his presence. We then come to an acoustic section which acts as backing track to some interesting lead work. This whole section feels some what mysterious and magical in a way. It certainly has this sadder tone to it at the same time letting your mind linger. But the pace once again picks up a bit with repeating phrases before the harmonies come in. And just like moments before they could just glimmer and sparkle. There is a brief pause before an acoustic section enters acting as an outro for the song. What a lovely way to end a great EP!

Conclusion

“Long Hath the Night Dwelt” leaves a lasting impression built on warmth, atmosphere and a sense of genuine craft. What stayed with me most is how comforting the production feels. The tones glow, the mix feels inviting and every instrument sits in a space that feels natural and human. There is a softness running through these songs that makes the experience almost soothing, even when the themes turn darker.

I love how the production supports that feeling without ever overshadowing the performances. It gives the EP a nostalgic character that feels honest rather than forced. The whole thing carries a gentle emotional weight that settles in your chest and stays there. By the time the final acoustic notes fade, I was left wanting more, not because anything was missing, but because the world Fable have created is so easy to sink into.

As a debut, it shows clarity, intention and a strong sense of identity. As an EP, it offers a compact journey that feels complete while still leaving the door open for future chapters. “Long Hath the Night Dwelt” is a beautifully crafted introduction to a band with a vivid creative voice, and it left me genuinely excited for what they will create next.