Candlemass.....can anyone describe this band?

[SoundMaster]

Hi all,

I've recently read some great reviews on a band named "Candlemass".
Apparently, their a late 80s doom band, taking hints of early Sabbath & combining it with the dark atmosphere of vintage Mercyful Fate, and applying operatic vocals

Has anyone here heard their music? Are the worth investigating?

 

[JonnyD]

YES get Nightfall! its a classic

 

[Erik]

One of the most important metal bands ever. Get "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus," their first and finest album... But everything up to & including "Ancient Dreams" is pretty mandatory.

 

[SickBoy]

Apparently, their a late 80s doom band, taking hints of early Sabbath & combining it with the dark atmosphere of vintage Mercyful Fate, and applying operatic vocals

I'd agree with all except for "operatic" vocals...
Messiah's vox are very original in interpretation and style, very distinctive.
But I wouldn't call them operatic in any sense...
Musically their songs are slow to mid paced, with melancholic and epic feeling. Can't miss with this one...

 

[Erik]

I actually prefer the vocalist on "Epicus" to Messiah... I think he goes overboard with the theatralics and vibrato sometimes.

 

[Lies and Perfidy]

Describe Candlemass? One word: HEAVY.

The description you've got, Mercyful Fate meets Sabbath, is pretty accurate; they're based on traditional/power metal riffs like Mercyful Fate, but instead of making them thrashier and more complex, they slow them down and get more atmospheric. And then there's the vocals: both Johan Lanquist and Messiah Marcolin are fucking amazing emotional singers. "A Sorcerer's Pledge" is probably in my top 20 or 30 songs ever. Definitely recommended.

 

[Wyvern]

ASTOUNDING!

To me one of the best bands to understand what Doom metal is about. I was pretty dubious about Messiah Marcolin vocals, but now I'm a huge fan of him (also got his Memento Mori albums). Undoubtely "Nightfall", "Ancient Dreams" and "A Tale Of Creation" are the band finest albums.

Leif Edling who is the bass and mastermind of the band also has two other awsome creations "Abstrakt Algebra" and "Krux".

Candlemass is a must be for any doom fan.

 

[SoundMaster]

Wow! Not one negative comment on this band!

Being that I LOVE 90s doom - particularly My Dying Bride - I don't see how I can fail to like Candlemass. I've just ordered "Nightfall".
Nothing beats dark, draining, emotional music, IMO.

This year I've (finally) 'discovered' both Motorhead & Saxon (after having been into almost every genre of metal imaginable for the past 20 years). Perhaps Candlemass is the next great band that I, somehow, overlooked all these years!

 

[IOfTheStorm]

Black Sabbath + Angelwitch + Rainbow (Rising) + some of the most epic moments of early Manowar = Candlemass. First 4 albums are perfect.
Only similarity with M.F. is that they both have dark atmosphere.

 

[SoundMaster]

Black Sabbath + Angelwitch + Rainbow (Rising) + some of the most epic moments of early Manowar = Candlemass.

Being that Rainbow's "Rising" is among my FAV ALBUMS of all time, I'm really excited after reading this! And, if by "epic moments of early Manowar" you're referring to great tunes such as "Dark Avenger", I'm in!

 

[Wyvern]

Candlemass IMO has nothing to do with Rainbow or Angel Witch. But of course owes a lot to the gloom of Black Sabbath (like all doom bands). If I have to pick a NWOBHM with influence over Candlemass that will be Witchfinder General. And since I don't like Manowar I believe is cruel to compare Candlemass with them

 

[WIntersReflection]

Candlemass are SO worth investigating! :-D

I would suggest either Epicus... Doomicus.... Metallicus... or Tales of Creation, THEY RULE!

Deep, sepulchural singing, spppppeeddy awesome guitar playing, and lyrics with poetry that any poet would be proud to claim their own!
-----> Loves Candlemass

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

Candlemass IMO has nothing to do with Rainbow or Angel Witch. But of course owes a lot to the gloom of Black Sabbath (like all doom bands). If I have to pick a NWOBHM with influence over Candlemass that will be Witchfinder General. And since I don't like Manowar I believe is cruel to compare Candlemass with them

What wyvern said lol

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

Wow! Not one negative comment on this band!

Being that I LOVE 90s doom - particularly My Dying Bride - I don't see how I can fail to like Candlemass. I've just ordered "Nightfall".
Nothing beats dark, draining, emotional music, IMO.

This year I've (finally) 'discovered' both Motorhead & Saxon (after having been into almost every genre of metal imaginable for the past 20 years). Perhaps Candlemass is the next great band that I, somehow, overlooked all these years!

I was going to mention My Dying Bride but you already did.. anyways seems like you miss out on alot of bands.. tell us what you do listen and perhaps we can fill in the gaps so to speak.. as for Motorhead i recently bought there 1916 album and its excellent.. it even has a ballad (the song 1916)which i was surprised... also get Orgasmatron by motorhead as well...

 

[SoundMaster]

I was going to mention My Dying Bride but you already did.. anyways seems like you miss out on alot of bands.. tell us what you do listen and perhaps we can fill in the gaps so to speak.. as for Motorhead i recently bought there 1916 album and its excellent.. it even has a ballad (the song 1916)which i was surprised... also get Orgasmatron by motorhead as well...

Thanks.
My favs are the usual suspects:

Led Zep
Sabbath (ALL)
Deep Purple
Rainbow (Dio era only)
Priest
Dio solo
Maiden
Mercyful Fate / King Diamond
and now Saxon and Motorhead

and some not so usual suspects:
Opeth
My Dying Bride
Anathema
the Gathering
the Tea Party
Porcupine Tree
Dead Can Dance
In the Woods
Katatonia

I actually now have EVERY Motorhead record with the single exception of the debut. Great band.....


As for Candlemass, I got my copy of NIGHTFALL last night. I've listened to it twice and think it's brilliant. It's more about the 'feel' and 'atmosphere' than it is with the actual notes/chords. And that's fine. It's just grand. And the vocalist is AWESOME! I love his style/sound.

I've actually also just ordered "Tales of Creation" and "Ancient Dreams". And if these kick ass, I'll pick up the debut as well as "13th Planet".

 

[Wyvern]

nia

I actually now have EVERY Motorhead record with the single exception of the debut. Great band.....

I've actually also just ordered "Tales of Creation" and "Ancient Dreams". And if these kick ass, I'll pick up the debut as well as "13th Planet".

Regarding Motorhead I can recommend the debut (s/t) for sure, but the first debut "On Parole" only for die-hard fans (like me )

As for Candlemass, nor the debut, nor "From The 13th Planet" had Messiah on vocals (neither does "Dactylis Glomerata"), also the line-up was completely change remaining only Leif Edling the bass and mastermind of the band. I hadn't try myslef (and I should) but I will recommend fro experimentation "Chapter VI" is the same line-up as the classic albums only with Tomas Vikstrom on vocals (now in Stormwind).