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During the last years
we have experienced an enormous number
of reunions from many legendary bands
of the past. Some of them were successful,
some of them not. This is the second
reunion of the original line up of
the MASTERS OF DOOM METAL, only six
months after their split. What has
happened? Why did they return once
again after a reunion that gave us
the chance to watch them live twice
in Greece and to buy a significant
number of re-releases and goodies?
Probably money was the main reason.
Someone must be very naive to think
that they've returned for the sake
of doom metal or whatever. I do not
want to deceive myself with such beliefs,
especially when I've witnessed the
adventurous personality of the genius
behind the band, Leif Edling. Personally
I don't mind if they came back for
the money, because I know how people
think when they come of age. The only
thing I wish is to release decent
albums that deserve to bear the name
Candlemass on the cover and this time
the Swedish doom metal enchanters
accomplished this task in the best
possible way.
The self-titled album
is a kaleidoscope in black, grey and
white and combines elements from everything
Leif has released during the last
twenty years. I will insist that this
is a deposit of Leif's history, since
it presents a lot of elements from
his previous bands and more specific
from Abstract Algebra. A satisfactory
and comprehensive description of "Candlemass"
would be that it's a mixture of "Ancient
Dreams" and "Abstract Algebra".
The music is as always heavy and very
dark and the two guitarists (probably
one of the best guitar duets in the
entire history of heavy metal) deliver
some of the most distinctive riffs
that only Candlemass could. I was
impressed by the performance of Jan
Lindh, a very dynamic one. Messiah
is once again good, but I must admit
that his voice after all these years
sounds a little bit tired. I do not
want to speak about Leif, because
I am a big admirer of his composing
abilities. I just want to express
my gratitude to him for all he has
offered to doom metal.
You can't compare
"Candlemass" to the trademark
albums of the first period of the
band. It's different than those albums,
in the sense that it is more powerful.
I think that only one song could be
fitted in these albums and this is
no other than "Witches",
the best one in the album. Other great
moments are "Seven Silver Keys",
"Copernicus" and "Spellbreaker",
while the rest of the songs are respectively
good and worth of the Candlemass history.
I believe that Candlemass
(and bands like them) have made their
circle and have given everything they
could. I do not expect from them to
release something striking as "Nightfall"
or "Tales of Creation",
because I know that they cannot. And
even if they do, I and fans like me,
will not understand it and acknowledge
it, because these records have left
their stamp on our hearts and nothing
can replace them. So I will not judge
"Candlemass" with the same
criteria, but I will see it from another
aspect. It is a very good record,
possibly the best one that Candlemass
could give us in year 2005.
Rate: Beyond rating
for the sick and dedicated fans. |
