A chirpier Candlemass (Death Magic Doom - Candlemass)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Death Magic Doom - Candlemass
Date:	13/06/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Maybe more accesible

Disadvantages: Less of the old school doom

It's quite a while since I've heard Candlemass' new music, so I was quite excited about their most recent offering - Death Magic Doom. I've kind of given in to the idea that Candlemass will never be the heavy gods of sludgy doom that they were in the 80s with releases like Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, both a pioneering and instantly recognisable sound that is awesome.

Their latest albums are still very good, the vocals are much more playful than in the past with an almost Dio sound at times and a hint of Tenacious D humour or cheesiness of Dream Evil's The Book of Heavy Metal.

The album is catchy, the choruses are memorable, the vocals a little commercial sounding and particularly high at times, which again may seem a bit dramatic in comparison to the bleak relentless spewing of hatred old fans will be used to. This style of singing is particularly audible on "Dead Angel" which happens to have some superb guitar riffs at the same time. There's a bit of old school power metal sneaking in, so I wouldn't fully class this as a doom metal album really.

1 If I Ever Die
2 Hammer of Doom
3 Bleeding Baroness
4 Demon of the Deep
5 House of 1000 Voices
6 Dead Angel
7 Clouds of Dementia
8 My Funeral Dreams
9 Lucifer Rising [Album Outtake][*]

Summary: Quite good but not by the band's high standards