CD Review: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead

Written by Ray Dunkle Monday, 09 July 2012 13:55

candlemass psalmsforthedead
Artist: Candlemass
Title: Psalms For The Dead
Genre: Doom Metal
Release Date: 8th June 2012
Label: Napalm Records

Album Review

CANDLEMASS have returned with, what seems to be the case, last album due to some difficult personal circumstances. The band has announced that they will stop making new albums and that they will keep going on only for live gigs. And as if all that weren’t enough Robert Lowe, the vocalist, quit the band (for reasons that have to do with the quality of the sound in the live performances). So if you’re planning to see them this summer they will have as a new front man Mats Levén (known from his collaboration with THERION, and Yngwie Malmsteen among others).

To remain on the topic tough, this is one of the best CANDLEMASS albums, where the heavy and atmospheric riffs of (mainly) the bass line are blended superbly with Lowe’s vocals. Surely one of the best moments of the album where the skills of the band are at its most obvious is in ‘Dancing In The Temple (Of The Mad Queen Bee)’, which despite its 3 and half minutes builds a grand and utterly Doom laden feeling. Epic in breadth is also ‘The Lights Of Thebe’ where all the classic CANDLEMASS elements co-exist amplifying the heavy sound of the song. So just to pick another outstanding track (because I could go on forever) I will mention the ‘Siren Song’ as it in its riffs holds something from the most brilliant moments of the ELOY, at times it sounds as Art Rock Doom.

As the band considered this as their last you can hear the level of concentration and pouring out of everything within them into this album. I sincerely hope that CANDLEMASS will be able to be back with a new album. To know that one of my most beloved bands will stop writing songs leaves me with a feeling of sadness. The album is a superb (not to mention poignant) farewell to the fans not only of the band but also of Doom Metal.

Tracklist

01. Prophet
02. The Sound Of Dying Demons
03. Dancing In The Temple (Of The Mad Queen Bee)
04. Waterwitch
05. The Lights Of Thebe
06. Psalms For The Dead
07. The Killing Of The Sun
08. Siren Song
09. Black As Time

Line-up

Robert Lowe
Mats "Mappe" Björkman
Lars Johansson
Leif Edling
Jan Lindh

Websites

https://www.facebook.com/candlemass / http://www.candlemass.se

Cover Picture

candlemass psalmsforthedead

Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8.5 / 10