Candlemass – Dingwalls 2007

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Sweden’s doom Gods return with new singer Robert Lowe, of Solitude Aeturnus, for his first tour with the band supporting new album King of The Grey Islands. The support bands for the tour vary depending on the territory, and for the two English dates of the European tour (the other being in Leeds the previous night) English doom band Centurions Ghost and Norwegian thrashers Battered were called up.

Centurions Ghost drew almost exclusively from new album The Great Work, released just two days prior, which has seen vocalist Mark Scurr (ne Deville) replace the unimpressive James Begley. In fact, only bassist Richard Whittaker and ex-End of Level Boss drummer Gareth Millsted remain from the debut album line-up, guitarists Dan 138 and Andrew Beryez having also been replaced by Federica Gialanza and Jonny Whittle. Centurions Ghost fit in well tonight, with a similar doom style to the likes of Candlemass and Cathedral, and with better vocals, guitar playing and songs to their debut album, their short 30-minute set was never lacking in power, commitment and energy.

Battered fared less well, but are the better band. Personnel wise they are effectively an expanded Einherjer, a long-running death/black metal three-piece. Consisting of guitar duo Aksel Herloe and Frode Glesnes (who also handled vocals) and drummer Gerhard Storesund they have formed this more thrash-oriented outfit with Headblock bassist Ole Moldesaether and serpentine front-man Siggy Olaisen. Olaisen tried his best to get members of the crowd down to the front and to get involved, but they just weren’t interested. Eventually a few moved forwards at the end of the set and Olaisen wasted no time jumping into the crowd to get a selection of screams from various patrons. Battered are without question one of the tightest thrash bands out there, with riffs to burn and one fantastic singer and front-man in Olaisen. In a different setting, supporting someone like Destruction or Kreator they would be an unquestionable hit. But thrash seemed to be too much to ask from a doom crowd this time, who’s tastes didn’t seem to stretch to another form of metal.

Although King of The Grey Islands satisfied any concerns over Robert Lowe as a replacement for the much loved Messiah Marcolin, fans were still anxious to see how he performed live with Candlemass. Fans in Sweden had a small preview when he appeared, along with several other singers, at their 20th anniversary show in March (to be released on DVD through Snapper Records soon) and later fans at festivals in Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany got a taste of the new Candlemass. Reports were positive.

Following the familiar Marche Funebre intro tape the band played Lowe slowly onto the stage where, as if to answer all doubters head-on, he blasted out the opening acapella lines to The Well of Souls. And that was job done; Lowe was the new singer of Candlemass in the eyes of another room full of fans, including, as most good doom shows in the capital do, one of the genre’s few bona fide legends, an almost unrecognisably short-haired Lee Dorrian.

Rattling through faultless versions of At The Gallows End and Solitude cemented the audience’s belief in the band and Lowe was already showing that he is happier to be part of Candlemass than Marcolin did. Messiah used to love the front-man centre-of-attention role, and would perform separately from the rest of the band. Lowe performs with the band and would often introduce songs, or sing occasional lines with one arm round the shoulders of another band member.

The first two of three new songs from King of The Grey Islands came next and fitted in perfectly alongside the older material. Three songs in particular are often cited as the best from the new album, and it was these three chosen tonight. Emperor of The Void is the album’s magnificent opener (following the acoustic intro Prologue) and it’s followed by Demon Seed, so putting the two together live works well. The third, Of Stars And Smoke, came later after a brace of old tracks in the mighty Mirror Mirror and Under The Oak.

Epic A Sorcerer’s Pledge closed the main set before a quick encore pair of Black Dwarf from the self-titled reunion album with Marcolin in 2005 (re-recorded as a very limited bonus track for the new album with Lowe) and the ever-popular Samarithan. The attraction of meandering tracks like A Sorcerer’s Pledge and Samarithan over the likes of Where The Runes Still Speak, The Bells of Acheron, Dark Are The Veils of Death and even Seven Keys is questionable in a live setting, but they always seem to be winners with the crowds.

Much more so than Candlemass’ last visit to London in 2005, the band were on absolute top form. The members seemed to be enjoying themselves much more and this renewed enthusiasm wasn’t lost on the crowd, who visibly loved every second. Hopefully the momentum gained by the excellent new album and now a successful tour will start to raise their profile again towards the level it belongs.

“ faultless versions ”

Centurions Ghost Setlist: The Supreme Moment / Let Sleeping Corpses Die / In Defiance / I Am God, You Are Denied / Bedbound (In The House of Doom)

Battered Setlist: Demagog / Perfect Illusion / Parasight / Not One / Derelict / Industrial Killing / New Lament / Oblivion Awaits

Candlemass Setlist: The Well of Souls > At The Gallows End > Solitude / Emperor of The Void / Devil Seed / Mirror Mirror / Under The Oak / Of Stars And Smoke / A Sorcerer’s Pledge // Black Dwarf / Samarithan

Photo: Johan Eriksson | www.rockersdigest.com

Written by Andy Lye
More: Doom Metal, Gigs, Battered, Candlemass, Centurions Ghost