Candlemass - Death Magic Doom review
| Band: | Candlemass |
| Album: | Death Magic Doom |
| Style: | Epic doom metal |
| Release date: | April 03, 2009 |
| A review by: | Lucas |
Disc I [CD]
01. If I Ever Die
02. Hammer Of Doom
03. The Bleeding Baroness
04. Demon Of The Deep
05. House Of 1000 Voices
06. Dead Angel
07. Clouds Of Dementia
08. My Funeral Dreams
09. Lucifer Rising [US/Limited Edition bonus]
10. White God [bonus]
Disc II [DVD] [Limited Edition bonus]
+ Studio & Tour Report
Throughout their lengthy career, Candlemass has shown various faces. Well, what do you expect when your sound is very vocal-driven and you change vocalist on numerous occasions in your career? When Messiah left/got kicked out of the band in '06, they quickly introduced the -other- guy with the dazzling voice - Robert Lowe. Known for his works with the long-running Solitude Aeturnus, there were no doubts concerning his skills, but still their first album together felt a little uncomfortable and lacking in chemistry.
That, my doomed companions, is now no longer an issue. With their second album together "Death Magic Doom", and the tenth full-length album in Candlemass' life, both parties have found each other in a magnificent album. What Candlemass is today is a groovy, doomy and relentless killing machine. The characteristic despairing wails of Messiah have been replaced with Lowe's angry, bellowing lines. Still, the biggest change that this band went through in recent times has to do with the riffs. Where they used to be lead-heavy and pummelling, they are now fast(er) and full of catchy firework (especially the solos). This band has matured a lot, despite how superfluous and meaningless such a term actually is.
As opposed to the previous vocalists of Candlemass, who peaked early in their Candlemass-career, Lowe seems to work the other way around. "Death Magic Doom" is a definite step-up from their previous album and a very accessible, but nonetheless very enjoyable album. At times, they even sound more like a US Power metal act than a Traditional Doom metal one, with "If I Ever Die" as best example. Don't fear though, only on a few occasions and well, the band has always possessed a fair amount of cheese, right? Besides, the opener is compensated by the jaw dropping "Hammer Of Doom", with its stunning vocal performance and ditto main riff. And when the riffs are subtly accentuated by the keyboard in the background, things get even better (House Of Thousand Voices). Not every song is worth its weight in gold, but there are certainly no below-average tracks on this. Hell, "My Funeral Dreams" and "Clouds Of Dementia" are my least favourite songs on this album but they still kick the ass of a ton of Doom bands out there.
Lowe brought a significant amount of change and keeps the band fresh and vibrant, however paradoxical that may sound. "Death Magic Doom" is another great release from this highly prolific and important band. I personally think it is amazing how this band manages to maintain an interesting sound, even if the changes were forced upon them and Lowe is certainly not my favourite of the Candlemass vocalists. And truth be told: no Doom metal lover will be able to resist this baby. Swinging The Hammer Of Doooooooooooom!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
 | Written on 15.04.2009 by If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff. |
Comments
Comments: 76
Visited by: 417 users
| Ask Posts: 61  |
Solid review but I found this album mind-numbingly boring. Both Candlemass and MDB really struck out this year with their new albums. The only doom album I've been really impressed with has been Isole's Silent Ruins.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
I agree with you totally on this review, Lucas. But... just to set you straight... this is their 10th full-length
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Clintagräm Shrinebuilder Posts: 5773  |
Sounds good. I do enjoy Robert Lowe a lot, but I'm surprised that Messiah is so quickly glossed over, especially after he just left and is the voice of Candlemass, but that is past. While I haven't heard this in full, it's a Candlemass record, so it's surely for the win.
---- The force will be with you, always.
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| ioannisk Posts: 75  |
I really LOVED the previous one, and to be honest this one is very mediocre. The hammer of doom is one of the most boring songs i've heard and generally traditional doom bores me easily. But Candlemass always managed to be catchy. That's the thing that lacks this album catchiness and originality. If you are new to Candlemass you will be probably excited but unfortunantely i'm not...But still Messiah fits more 
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by ioannisk on 15.04.2009 at 16:48 Lacking catchiness?  This album is catchy as hell, I would even dare to say it is their catchiest to date. Originality it does lack but then again where is the originality in metal as a whole (and doom more specifically?)Nope, I am not new to Candlemass, I have been into them and following them ever since they released Epicus Doomicus Metallicus. Messiah fitting more is a matter of taste. I still think that Johan Lanqvist is the best vocalist they ever had. And Messiah not being in the band anymore is a good thing. Now he won't be a pain in the ass anymore and won't be able to hold back the band recording. It's no wonder he was kicked out.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| munson Posts: 117  |
Pretty solid review, and great album. I miss Messiah, but Robert Lowe can really deliver. His performance on "If I Ever Die" was simply awesome.
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| Stigmatized .......... Posts: 3820  |
On first listen it sounds like a solid album. I still prefer Messiah in Candlemass, but Rob Lowe is still a great vocalist who is good with their sound.
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| THE_BLACK_GOD Account deleted |
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| ioannisk Posts: 75 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 15.04.2009 at 17:09 i speak generally that if someone (not you ) is new to candlemass wiil apreciate the album more. i don't say it is bad, i just think that the previous one was way better..think for example of the song of stars and of smoke: the riff is simple and not very original but the chorus is simply great! i tried to listen this album more than one time but has failed so far to change my opinion...sorry...i made the comment while i was amazed how everyone was giving such high rates!! in the end i might be wrong or time will tell otherwise!!
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15303  |
Liked the review, really looking forward to the eventual Stateside release of this album...
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427  |
Grr I hate mistakes like that, Marcel.
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?  "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62283  |
Well I forgot sad maybe As I Die oisnt best song and is not doom, but its damn good us power metal song  seems band mistace was put in like first , my vaf is The Bleeding Baroness and My Funeral Dreams, Hammer Of Doom is good to I hope they will realise same next one whit this vocalist hope it wont be one album magic
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| VPeter Posts: 1451  |
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| Glen_Doom Posts: 418  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 15.04.2009 at 17:09 I love you !!  Had innumerable debates with other candlemass lovers who criticized my statement regarding Lanqvist being their best vocalistAnd Death Magic Doom is in my opinion way better than King of the Grey Islands, although have to say that I never fully liked Lowe's voice.
---- Spitting in the face of mainstream music !!!
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| Baz Anderson Staff Posts: 13262  |
Thanks for doing this. I've had a few listens to it now, and for a genre I am least versed in, I quite enjoy the album.
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| Talvi Posts: 825  |
One of their best albums!
---- My account on other musical pages: http://www.last.fm/user/Pozito/ http://rateyourmusic.com/~Talvi
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| Passenger Lost To Apathy Posts: 1464  |
If you don't like Candlemass you don't like Metal. Death Magic Doom!
---- You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it ~ Mean Streets
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| Ragana Rawrcat Posts: 4919  |
Written by Passenger on 17.04.2009 at 21:34 Yeah, that's VERY objective Can't see the problem with the song 'If I Ever Die', well, at least for me - not a fan of Candlemass it worked, so I continued to check the album. Pretty strange doom metal, I used to listen to more... gothic (?) and death/doom metal, I suppose. Though I have heard Candlemass before, they didn't surprise me much - to me this is just an ordinary album.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18439  |
Written by Ragana on 17.04.2009 at 22:10 Because it's just not Doom Metal... That's why. It's like if the first song of a Cannibal Corpse album was ... I don't know, Black Metal. It just doesn't seem right. I actually don't understand why it can be strange... That would appeal to Funeral, drone or sludge, but this is traditional doom... It can't be that strange xP And about the album. Yeah I think all the people here agree that the firsts albums still kick more asses, but I understand why this album is good... I mean, I haven't listened to something as Powerful as the song Hammer Of Doom in a long time now. The ending of that song is fucking sick. The firsts albums are really specials since nothing like that came at that time. It's like Reign In Blood, I doesn't make people like this : O____O But at the time it was realised... I'm sure that everybody shited bricks.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Ragana Rawrcat Posts: 4919 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 17.04.2009 at 22:22 If Cannibal corpse at last produced something good, it would be fine with me, lol. However, you can't blame authors about this - the rest of album is doom, right?
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18439 |
Written by Ragana on 17.04.2009 at 22:31 Didn't understand the first thing... But yeah the rest of the album is solid Traditional Doom Metal. It's only the first songs that sounds like a flower metal thing...
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Passenger Lost To Apathy Posts: 1464 |
Written by Ragana on 17.04.2009 at 22:10 Ha, objectivity. Haha!
---- You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it ~ Mean Streets
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| Iceland_Norway Posts: 277  |
Passenger it's only a true fan of Candlemass  I liked this new Album, but little bored with some songs. I love Nightfall and Epicus (the best albums ever) and Ancient Dreams (that have the same problems about sound, songs listenability). I liked too much the predecessor King of the Grey Island that was better than the last one.
---- Føroyar mítt land Tú alfagra land mítt Føroyar mín Móðir
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| Abattoir Staff Posts: 3708  |
Well, it is a pretty cool staff...I'm very pleased with the whole sound. For now I cannot say anything more as I am not realy so familiar to doom metal...for now 
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15303 |
Written by BitterCOld on 15.04.2009 at 20:18 ... and still looking forward to the release of this album.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| Darkside Momo Retired Elite Posts: 9096  |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 17.04.2009 at 22:22 Well, it's not the first time Candlemass does this. Black Dwarf on the 2005 release has just the same vibe to it (a bit slower maybe?)
---- My Author's Blog (in French)  "You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you" "I've lost too many years now I'm stealing back my soul I am awake"
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18439 |
Written by Darkside Momo on 30.04.2009 at 00:07 Well.. maybe it was like you said... A little bit slower while If I ever Die was waaaay more power.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Jason W. Razorbliss Staff Posts: 3523  |
It's been quite some time since I've enjoyed a Candlemass album this much. Really, I'd say this one ranks second behind "Nightfall" for me. Hammer of Doom is just monstrous!
---- "After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley
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| Valentin B Iconoclast Posts: 10096  |
Haven't listened to very much of this album but i believe it's pretty good from what i've heard so far. my fav track is "The Bleeding Baroness" partly because i believe it's about Erszebet Bathory. also i love how this band has so many dimensions to their sound: they're catchy as fuck, epic as fuck, dramatic as fuck, the guitar tone is really great, brutal and bassy and the riffs are rad. definitely looking forward to hearing some tracks off this album when i'll be seeing them at the Rock City fest.
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