Candlemass

I did a search and found a Candlemass thread, but it was in the RIP section.


How many Candlemass fans we got here?


I am a fan and have been for years.


However, I prefer their material with Messiah Marcolin at the helm. Rob Lowe is a fine singer in his own right, but Candlemass is just so much better with Messiah IMHO.


What do you guys think?


I was just cranking "King of the Grey Islands" and it made me think of them.


Their trinity of albums from "Nightfall", to "Ancient Dreams" to "Tales of Creation" are just soo magnificant, that they will probably never match them again. I still like their new stuff though.

Ive really only ever gotten into two of their albums: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and From the 13th Sun. Other then that, nothing i care for really.

Funny Candlemass story. I was seeing my friend's band, Unbidden, live recently. The venue was near a graveyard. Seeing how it was a group of metalheads with metal attire on, the video to "Bewitched" popped in my head. I let loose a "You are bewiiiiiiitched!"

My friend laughed.

The Bewitched video:

I have Death Magic Doom, which is the first CD I have bought from them, and I love it. The main reason I checked it out was that Robert Lowe was singing and I like Solitude Aeturnus. Good stuff!

I like most of their stuff except perhaps "Dactylis Glomerata" and "From the 13th Sun". The Messiah Marcolin stuff is great, but I also like the two albums with Rob Lowe. I think the newer material can be considered in the same league than that 80's trilogy.

That video is hilarious, I never saw it before. I saw the video for "Mirror, Mirror" which is slightly better than this one. And I'm quite sure that Messiah Marcolin doesn't fit in that specific coffin anymore!

Awesome band! I will always love the Messiah stuff the most. But in truth the Rob Lowe albums are great too.

I'm adding pictures of Messiah Marcolin and Roger Martinez to the seperated-at-birth thread!

From The 13th Sun was a very pleasant surprise to me, it was nice to hear them branch out from the usual Electric Funeral-derived doom riffs.

Sure, it's not really Candlemass, but an interesting album nonetheless.

The Messiah stuff is good, I just have a hard time listening to that vocal style anymore. Epicus is the album I listen to the most from their earlier albums. The more recent stuff is good, but it really hasn't "clicked" with me yet.

That Bewitched song wasnt too bad, actually quite enjoyed it, but generally Ive never been able to take Marcolin as a vocalist.

The two albums, "Ancient Dreams" and "Nightfall" are sheer masterpieces of epic proportion. I would go as far as to say that they are the two best doom metal albums ever released. Just MHO though.


1. Ancient Dreams 10/10
2. Nightfall 10/10

*** small gap ***

3. Tales of Creation

*** gap ***

4. King of the Grey Islands


They are all good albums in their own right. Those are the only 4 I have, but need to fill the rest of the holes in my collection one day.

I've been a huge Candlemass fan for years!

My favorite album of theirs is "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus". I like all the Messiah Marcolin stuff a lot too and feel that he was their best singer.

I didn't care for "Dactylis Glomerata" and "From the 13th Sun", but everything is pretty damn good, if not great.

I need to get "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" one of these days. I have meant to get that one for many years now ... not sure why I never have.

I love "Well of Souls". One of the best doom songs EVER!

Leatherface wrote:

I love "Well of Souls". One of the best doom songs EVER!

A very good song indeed!!

Time to give this one a well deserved kick up the arse!

Candlemass is probably one of my favorite all time bands. The minute I heard them when I was 12 or 13 years old I was sold. Still love these guys to death, and I'm extremely happy that I saw them live with Messiah in 2005.

My ranking would be:

1. Epicus Doomicus Metallicus ∞/10 (no grade this enough for this album. Best album ever made imo)
2. Nightfall 11/10
3. From the 13th Sun 10.5/10
4. Tales of Creation 10/10
5. Candlemass 10/10
6. Ancient Dreams 9.5/10
7. Chapter VI 9/10
8. Dactylis Glomerata 8/10
9. King of the Grey Islands 8/10
10. Death Magic Doom 7/10

I've been slowly amassing their catalog. I've still got alllot to go, but so far I haven't heard anything I didn't like. It's all good. I don't know if I have a favorite era yet. The Messiah stuff is brilliant, but the newer, Lowe-era is more upbeat. Both good but sorta apple & oranges.

I've revisited their stuff over the past year, enjoyed hearing some of it again but I really have to be in the right mood for this particular brand of doom. The vocals are still the major sticking point, but the rigidness of their arrangements also grate on me after awhile. I want to scream LOOSEN UP at the speakers after awhile.

That's probably why I enjoy From The 13th Sun so much, it's more of a groove oriented, stoner vibe.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I've been slowly amassing their catalog. I've still got alllot to go, but so far I haven't heard anything I didn't like. It's all good. I don't know if I have a favorite era yet. The Messiah stuff is brilliant, but the newer, Lowe-era is more upbeat. Both good but sorta apple & oranges.

Have you heard Epicus Doomicus Metallicus yet? To me, that is their absolute pinnacle (the absolute pinnacle of metal as well ). King of the Grey Islands has grown on me a lot. When I bought it in 07 I couldn't stand it. I thought Lowe didn't fit the band, that the production sucked and that the songwriting just wasn't up to par. Now I like it a whole lot. It's kinda the other way around for me for Death Magic Doom. When I first got I absolutely loved it, now I'm kind of indifferent to it. The 2005 reunion album beats both of 'em.

I have these so far...

Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

Nightfall

Ancient Dreams

Tales of Creation

Candlemass

Death Magic Doom I own more Messiah-era stuff, but I'm pretty familiar with Lowe's other works, (I'm listening to Adagio as I type this.) so it's hard for me to pick a favorite just yet. I really like Death Magic Doom. That was one of my top purchases for '09.

I only have Tales Of Creation think it's an awesome album. I plan on collecting their other stuff but I imagine it will take me a while to get it all.

Any thoughts on the Chapter VI album? I've got the remastered version coming my way.

From what I've read, it's a bit of a transitional album for the band with a different singer and overall not a fan favorite. Since I'm trying to gather up their catalog, I put in a low bid on ebay for gits & shiggles and surprisingly I won.

Any opinions on that particular album?

Love it. Julie Laughs No More, The Dying Illusion and especially Where the Runes still Speak are AMAZING songs. I think people don't like the heavy/power metal sound and the production (which I admit is a bit sterile). It can't quite match the quality of the first four LPs, but it sure as hell is a great album.

Dave the Boss wrote:

Love it. Julie Laughs No More, The Dying Illusion and especially Where the Runes still Speak are AMAZING songs. I think people don't like the heavy/power metal sound and the production (which I admit is a bit sterile). It can't quite match the quality of the first four LPs, but it sure as hell is a great album.

Good to know. My cd finally arrived today on a slow mule from Canada. Can't wait to give it a spin and let you all know my thoughts. Please scoot up to the edge of your seats in anticipation.

I'm so excited I can't sleep!

I love their first two discs.