Review : CANDLEMASS – “Death Magic Doom”

Candlemass – “Death Magic Doom”
released May 5, 2009 on Nuclear Blast

These guys have made a career playing tunes mainly about the three things in their trifective title. Their tenth studio album is their second with former Solitude Aeturnus vocalist Robert Lowe, and I think chief songwriter/bassist/founder Leif Edling is more comfortable writing for his style. It’s different from Messiah Marcolin’s vamping vibrato, with a confidence and class akin to Ronnie James Dio.

The band charges out the door with balls on full display, driving hard with a great chorus/battle cry. They then slow to a lurch with the superb, Sabbath-esque “Hammer of Doom”. Beautifully paced and balanced, both 3 & 6 will burrow into your skull and nest for weeks, should you listen to them…just saying. If they do, shake ‘em up with the wicked groove running through 7.

Obligatory nods to Lovecraft (4) and Satan (9) arise, as do ideas that don’t completely gel (the church organ in 8), but this is the album you want from these veterans: a solid, powerful effort that better demonstrates their new vocalist while remaining true to form.

FCC OK
Try 1, *2*, *3*, 4, *6*, 7

01. If I Ever Die
02. Hammer Of Doom
03. The Bleeding Baroness
04. Demon Of The Deep
05. House Of 1000 Voices
06. Dead Angel
07. Clouds Of Dementia
08. My Funeral Dreams
09. Lucifer Rising (U.S. Bonus Track)

Rating: