Candlemass

[Zzzptm]

OK, talk to me about this band and its history and evolution.

I decided to give them a go just now, with "The Well of Souls" and I'm quite pleased with the tune. I thought they were death/black metal, but I'm pleasantly surprised with them being doom instead.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Hmmm, is this going to be another of those Metal Church moments when a group are not the genre I thought they were!

[Zzzptm]

I believe so, yes. Tyr's avatar has been intriguing me for several years, and I decided to learn more about them.

[Charger]

What is this I'm hearing about people not knowing about Candlemass!?!?!?!?

 


Candlemass were one of the originators of Doom metal back in the late 80s. Leif Edling (bass and main song writer and band leader) is a huge Sabbath fan and has always cited Sabbs as their main influence.

If there are to be named to of the big Euro-doom bands they would be Candlemass and Cathedral...the latter going more stoner/prog in the 90s though..but CM stayed very true to the heavy doom all their career.

If one would be talking about the Big 4 of DOOM metal Candlemass would most certainly be a part of it along with Cathedral and Solitude Aeturnus...in my book anyways.


If you don't know check out an album called DEATH MAGIC DOOM from CM that is by far their best and in my humble opinion one of THE best doom metal albums of all time. My old BSO friend Franklin was the first to turn me to CM I believe...that was around the time DMD came out back in 2009...I think...Franklin also praised that album to high heavens and for a very good reason.

[Charger]

My Candlemass albums:



I also have the vinyl copy of the 12" single of Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee but for some reason couldn't find a pic of it right now...

[Tyr66]

My Candlemass albums:



I also have the vinyl copy of the 12" single of Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee but for some reason couldn't find a pic of it right now...

cool collection , Charger !... but , wait ... What?!?! you don't have the 2005 album marking the (second) reunion with Messiah Marcolin !

I love this one :

Yes , I' m an absolute fan of Messiah while Charger is more a fan of the Robert Lowe era. Different but good as well.
Their first album surprised everyone in 1986, when the metal fashion was either going really fast in performing or putting on chick clothes. I must have listened to Epicus a hundred times. They arrived with their Doom published on the French label Black Dragon. A year later, their music is defined by a sticker stuck on the cover of Nightfall as an illegitimate child born between Black Sabbath, Judas Priest (?) And Manowar ...

[Charger]

No I don't have the self titled album...I've listened to the songs and honestly the only ones I like are Black Dwarf and Seven Silver Keys...The album to me always seemed bit rushed and just done because Messiah came back...it had very little creativity and passion behind it...

I do enjoy the early version of Witches with the mighty Tony Martin though:

Much better than the version that made it to the album.

That being said I am still glad that Tony didn't join Candlemass at the time...he himself said that it wouldn't have been a good fit..and he was right.

[Jack the Stripper]

I love the 2005 s/t Candlemass album. Was a great return to form when it came out and is one of the better albums in their career. Also kickstarted a great trio of albums with King of the Grey Islands and Death Magic Doom.

[Charger]

The self titled album does seem to divide people...some love it some hate it...not a lot of middleground from what I've heard. I do recall reading somewhere that Leif himself wasn't too happy about the album either...which is probably why they don't really play songs from it live.

[Tyr66]

The self titled album does seem to divide people...some love it some hate it...not a lot of middleground from what I've heard. I do recall reading somewhere that Leif himself wasn't too happy about the album either...which is probably why they don't really play songs from it live.

Not sure about the poor appreciation of the 2005 abum. It's highly rated on Encyclopaedia Metallum, the band's highest rating with Nightfall. Reviews at the time were very good despite the fact that Messiah had left again the band in 2004 after the 2002 reunion and the 2003 live recording "Doomed For Life".
Messiah had expressed doubts about the musical orientation which was more towards something closer to Krux, as much to say that the singer didn't like too much the use of  keyboards and 70,s influences.
After the album, a new argument broke out with Leif who didn't give in to the singer's threat to leave the band and declare Candlemass could not be without him, as the last 3 albums had just demonstrated according to Marcolin.
Too bad really ....

[Tyr66]

all of Messiah's Class:

[Jack the Stripper]

S/T has a very good approval rating on Rate Your Music. Equal 4th overall in their studio catalogue and slightly higher than the 2 albums that proceeded it.
https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/candlemass

I think Leifs unhappiness with it or unwillingness to play songs from it probably stems from not so happy memories of working with Messiah again. They don’t play much from the Lowe era these days.

[Charger]

After the album, a new argument broke out with Leif who didn't give in to the singer's threat to leave the band and declare Candlemass could not be without him, as the last 3 albums had just demonstrated according to Marcolin.
Too bad really ....

Yeah Marcolin always came through as a pretty egotistic fellow. And Leif's ego isn't small either so it's no surprise that they didn't part in good terms. But Candlemass isn't Marcolin as the Lowe albums well proved...


I'm quite glad they're not doing material from the Lowe era with Johan...he's a great singer but he can't even touch the level of highs and lows of Robert so the songs would sound pretty bland with him singing....And I'm pretty sure Johan knows that himself too and that's why he doesn't want to try them either. Such a different style of vocalists those two.

[Zzzptm]

OK, so I'm starting with Death Magic Doom. Gotta say it's got a monster opening track. Reminds me of Dio with Rainbow / Dehumanizer-era Sabbath a lot.

[Tyr66]

This is my Candlemass collection :