Doom Metal

[Charger]

The video for Astorolus is up:

Pretty damn trippy...I'll just leave it at that.

[Tyr66]

Love the song but this is a god-awful vid because :

1- Why so few shots on Mats Björkman? What's the problem ?
2- I deeply hate to see anyone manipulating an animal corpse, as disgusting as it is. I would have preferred to see pictures of old cinema classics à la Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

[Charger]

A weird one for sure...

[Zzzptm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b014V-tchcU

Try this one from Athens, Greece. Vocalist has a bit of an accent, but the rock on this album is some great stuff.

[Charger]

Well after the first listen I can say the new Candlemass isn't quite as good as I expected it to be honestly. Most certainly not as good as Psalms For The Dead was that's for sure.

But there are some killer tracks like Splendor Demon Majesty, Astorolus and especially Black Trinity which is without a doubt the best track on the album...that is classic Candlemass right there!

An absolute low point however is Under The Ocean which sounds like a left over Avatarium track, no punch no energy and most importantly no doom. Another filler is the short one Bridge Of The Blind.

I will need some more time with this in order to write a proper review but one thing I can say though Johan sounds better than ever. His voice has more depth now that was missing from Epicus.

[Tyr66]

Well after the first listen I can say the new Candlemass isn't quite as good as I expected it to be honestly. Most certainly not as good as Psalms For The Dead was that's for sure.

But there are some killer tracks like Splendor Demon Majesty, Astorolus and especially Black Trinity which is without a doubt the best track on the album...that is classic Candlemass right there!

An absolute low point however is Under The Ocean which sounds like a left over Avatarium track, no punch no energy and most importantly no doom. Another filler is the short one Bridge Of The Blind.

I will need some more time with this in order to write a proper review but one thing I can say though Johan sounds better than ever. His voice has more depth now that was missing from Epicus.

listen after listen, you'll  enjoy it more and more like me,  I'm sure.
I understood where this weird feeling came from this new record that could and should have been even better.
According to an interview with Mappe and Johan given to Radio Metal, Marcus Jidell had finished the production. The album was finished with Mats on vocals. A few days later, Mappe recalls Marcus and explains that he must return to the studio because a surprise awaits him. The return of Johan was decided very quickly between Leif, Johan and Mappe. They announced the news to Mats, inevitably very disappointed and embittered. It's so  easy to understand him. Johan then put his voice on vocals already recorded, hence the feeling of hearing Johan sung as Mats, which clearly embarrassed me at the beginning.
The Eternal Idol Syndrome.
Talking about Sabbath, not sure either that the band really crossed Iommi in the studio, I think rather to some files were sent by mail, in reality. They certainly sent him Astorolus - The Great Octopus with Mats on vocals.
Regardless, I think today that the album is very good, much better than all productions with Rob Lowe.

[Charger]

That's very interesting I didn't know that Mats had actually finished the album... Well I'll take Johan over Mats any given day...that guy just did not have the pipes nor the voice for Candlemass.

From what I gathered from Tony was that he played the solo at his studio and just sent it to Candlemass...he was never involved with the recording process in Sweden.

Candlemass really peaked with Robert though...both musically but most importantly vocally.

Today I've been just listening to Sprits Of Fire...but tomorrow I think I'll get more this one again..

[Tyr66]

^^^ another connection with the Levens era with the fantastic track Bridge of the Blind : a veritable Fortuneteller II from House of Doom EP.
However , Lars plays one of his best guitar solos.

[Tyr66]

Don't know if you guys have the possibility to click on english version somewhere , I know it exists .If not, Google translation is your friend !!
Anyway , here the link to a very long interview with Candlemass .
http://www.radiometal.com/article/candlemass-ambassadeur-doom,325035

Very good site. I wrote some articles about Martin Eric Ain , Malcolm Young and Eddie Clarke following their passing.

[Charger]

New music from Saint Vitus:

https://saintvitus.bandcamp.com/album/saint-vitus?fbclid=IwAR1Pb6r6KnvAqECfWyjfOrffngjphnYdpNkm9aq_pkd1gckgYo21gy58tZ4

Never really known much about these guys...think I've heard one or two tracks in the past.

One thing stands out in this song...the vocals are insanely high in the mix.

[Tyr66]

so surprising vocals ! love his way to sing and this mighty tone of guitar 

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

New music from Saint Vitus:

https://saintvitus.bandcamp.com/album/saint-vitus?fbclid=IwAR1Pb6r6KnvAqECfWyjfOrffngjphnYdpNkm9aq_pkd1gckgYo21gy58tZ4

Never really known much about these guys...think I've heard one or two tracks in the past.

One thing stands out in this song...the vocals are insanely high in the mix.

Saint Vitus is amazing. This is their original singer Scott Reagers. Reagers Vitus is much darker and doomier. There is also an era with vocalist Wino. Wino is a much more free spirit but still doom/stoner kinda vibe. Music for people who didn't fit in. They were definitely an underground band but they were most popular when punk was everywhere. They were on a punk label but they were the one of the only bands to really slow it down into Sabbathy sludginess with a little tiny mix of 80's punk. Anyways, without the history, I am looking forward to this album because its going to be dark, heavy, evil with plenty of cheese! There should be plenty of downtuned riffs and I love Chandlers Hendrix like crazy guitar solo shredding!

[Charger]

I might have to check some more Saint Vitus out...

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

This is a great Vitus album! Otherwise their first two from the mid 80's are really good too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7_FWh0RqUw

[Jack the Stripper]

Grief Collector and Robert Lowe have teamed up for a new 5 song concept release
https://griefcollector1.bandcamp.com/album/from-dissension-to-avowal