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CANDLEMASS :
CANDLEMASS

Man, I love when classic bands get back together, it doesn't always result in greatness, sometimes all we get is mediocrity (see Life Of Agony's "Broken Valley" and Prong's "Scorpio Rising" for prime examples), but at the very least it gives us hope, and sometimes, sometimes, we get something truly great. Death Angel proved they still have it with "The Art Of Dying", Obituary are pleasing the Death-Metal crowd the world over with their new "Frozen In Time" platter, and I don't think there are too many Metal heads out there that are disappointed with Maiden and Priest both being back together. So now we have the boys in Sweden's legendary Doom-Metal outfit Candlemass back in action, complete with fan favourite vocalist, Messiah Marcolin. Well, actually they were back in action a couple years ago for a live disc and a few shows. No one really knew if a studio disc would come of that little reunion, and when they announced in '04 that they had split again, any hope fans had held onto was lost. But, never say never, as a short time later they came to their senses, got their shit together, and produced this, what many are calling the best CD of their career! Even those that won't go quite that far in their adulation of this new sonic monster, still readily admit that it is one kick-ass comeback! Dude, I don't care who you think wears the Doom crown, be it Sabbath, The Obsessed, Witchfinder General, Pentagram, St. Vitus, Trouble, or Cathedral... it doesn't really matter, because if you hold any of these bands in high regard, then this album should put a big dopy smile on your face. It's as if they never split... Candlemass (the album) shows that the band can both embrace their past, while looking to the future. There is a little more up-tempo here than fans are used to, but it works great. To my ears, it kind of sounds like a mix of their classic sound, Cathedral, and oddly enough... Iron Maiden?! Let me explain that Maiden remark before you label me as a mental patient, there is just a professionalism, and sense of song structure that seems right out of the Maiden handbook, and at times, some of these tunes seem to possess a quality not unlike that found in Maiden's slower epic pseudo-ballads. What more could a Doom fan want? We have haunting emotional vocals, killer riffs, fantastic catchy songs, and lots of rhythm/tempo changes to keep your interest throughout. Killer stuff, oh, and by the way, the digi-pack version has the bonus track "Mars And Volcanos" added on to the end, so you might wanna spring for that version. For more info, check out the band's official home at candlemass.se.
RATING = 8.5 Doom-Metal (Released 2005)

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