Candlemass – Death Magic Doom

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Sweden’s doom pioneers seem to have recaptured the prolificy of their early career with established heavyweight doom vocalist Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus) at the helm for two albums, a live DVD and an EP since 2006. Strangely disjointed opener If I Ever Die doesn’t get things off to an especially great start, although the solo is good and it is still unmistakably Candlemass, but as it bleeds into a plodding Hammer of Doom things start to get into more familiar territory before The Bleeding Baroness, the first moment of recognisable Candlemass epic doom and easily the highlight of the first half of the album, steps the record up a gear. The rest of the disc is every bit as good, and in some cases better, than King of The Grey Islands, the first album recorded with Lowe. House of A Thousand Voices and Demon of The Deep could just as easily have come from that album, while Dead Angel sees Lowe go for a new, ominous and melodic vocal style on the chorus, Clouds of Dementia moves through several early-Sabbath transitions and My Funeral Dreams is nothing short of Candlemass’s Into The Void in terms of groove-riffing. Overall Death Magic Doom surpasses King of The Grey Islands, and had If I Ever Die been slightly better it might have edged Semlah‘s self-titled debut for doom album of the year so far. It’s as close as second can come, though. Fans should be thrilled.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Doom Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Candlemass