Candlemass “Black Star”
Swedish doom masters Candlemass seemingly can do no wrong as they, yet again, prove on a terrific new EP.
Swedish doom metal masters Candlemass always deliver on stage and in the studio. Now, they serve up a four-track EP. Unsurprisingly, it is filled with excellent doom metal of the best kind. The title track is a solid, haunting trademark Candlemass doom song. It swings back and forth between its lighter verses and a heavy-as-fuck chorus. It is built on a master riff of the Godzilla kind. The guitar work is as fine as it gets. The song has everything one could wish for. It is followed by the fine instrumental track “Corridors of Chaos”. Here, the band combines fine doom with some more traditional metal. Lars Johansson’s guitar is the star of the track. The final two tracks are covers, Black Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and Pentagram’s “Forever My Queen”. Normally, I am no fan of great bands doing covers. But the gentlemen of doom in Candlemass pull it off.
Musically, Leif Edling (bass), Lars Johansson (lead guitar), Mappe Björkman (rhythm guitar) and Janne Lindh (drums) are such a tight unit. NASA would probably hire them as an airlock for the International Space Station. They have played together for many years and never disappoint.
Johan Längquist’s vocals are what give me a pleasant surprise this time. Already on the band’s 1986 debut album “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”, he showed us how doom should be sung. But on the new EP, Johan’s vocals have an angry, almost pissed-off, attitude to them. That makes it interesting and adds something, especially to the two well-chosen covers.
I bow my head to the doom masters. They have yet again, of course, delivered. What a fantastic band this is.
Candlemass’ new EP “Black Star” will be released on 9th May via Napalm Records.
