Candlemass – “Black Star” (EP)
Review by: James Thomas
Review Score: 9.5
The legends of epic doom have returned! Nearly three years after the previous full-length release, 2022’s “Sweet Evil Sun”, the mighty Candlemass returns with their new EP, “Black Star”, set for release on May 9. The band who indisputably gave rise to the “epic doom metal” sub-genre has been serving up meaty, heavy, dread-inducing music for nearly four decades, and time hasn’t slowed these guys down one bit.
Combining melody, bombast, and brutality into a cauldron of a heavy metal maelstrom, Candlemass has never once relinquished the throne of epic, melodic doom, and this latest EP is certainly no exception. Consisting of two tracks of original material (one of which is an instrumental) and two cover songs, this EP is sure to please longtime fans of the band and welcome newer fans into the fold. Let’s take a deeper dive into each track below.
1) Black Star (6:03)
Johan’s vocals come in immediately over softer music, as an acoustic guitar plays. The music doesn’t take long to begin crushing the listener, though! The riff is heavy, slow, and crushing – in true Candlemass fashion. The music continues to slow down during the verses but picks up the heaviness and intensity during the chorus. Fans are treated to an early guitar solo less than two minutes into the song, and the rhythm section plods along perfectly behind it. There is a nice breakdown section shortly after the conclusion of the solo before Johan begins crooning over some nice acoustic guitar work once again. A heavy, lumbering riff comes in around the midway point of the song, and fans are whisked away to a solemn, foreboding atmosphere that Candlemass has proven so adept at creating over the decades. As Johan fiercely sings about the BLACK STAR, he reaches a level of intensity that will remind listeners of the band’s utterly legendary debut. This song is epic doom personified. Fans will be incredibly pleased with this one – the only original track on the EP with vocals accompanying.
2) Corridors of Chaos (3:51)
Fans are treated to a heavy, menacing instrumental track as the EP continues. Once again, there is a very early solo in this one, and it does a fantastic job in complementing the dark main riff in the song. One could easily picture this being one of the interlude tracks on the band’s seminal second release, “Nightfall”. As the song approaches its final minute, there is another heavy breakdown section that is sure to have fans banging their heads. The heaviness is ratcheted up another notch here, and fans are left with a sense of dread as the track fades out.
3) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (6:06)
Ah, we have come to the point where the band takes the opportunity to pay tribute to the legendary Black Sabbath – undoubtedly their greatest influence. The fathers of heavy metal generally, Black Sabbath are often credited with specifically creating the “doom” genre, particularly during the band’s early days with Ozzy at the helm. And if Sabbath created doom, Candlemass are the purveyors of “epic doom”. This track is a beautifully brutal picture of the “passing of the baton” that took place all those years ago – when Candlemass became the torchbearers of doom in 1986 with their landmark debut, “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”, as Sabbath had changed their sound through the years of a revolving door of band members. This cover is phenomenal – Candlemass very much do the track justice while putting their own spin on the sound.
4) Forever My Queen (2:42)
The EP concludes with a cover of the classic Pentagram track, “Forever My Queen”. Fans will quickly recognize the upbeat “march” of the song, as Johan comes in with his ferocious vocals. The song retains the trademark heaviness that is unmistakably a Candlemass take on the Pentagram sound. The guitar solo is very well done as the song winds down. All in all, this is a very solid way to end the EP.
It is truly remarkable that a band who has been making music for as long as these guys have can still be churning out such high-quality epic doom. When the band burst onto the scene back in 1986 with their landmark album, “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”, no one could have predicted the monumental impact they would have on the world of heavy metal in general. Johan was the voice on the debut and wouldn’t go on to appear on another Candlemass album until 2019’s “The Door to Doom” – a 33-year gap that saw the band go through a revolving door of vocalists, most notably Messiah Marcolin. The Robert Lowe era is undoubtedly the most underrated era of the band’s career, but this all goes to show that a band who makes incredible music that leaves an indelible mark on the industry can not only survive, but THRIVE. And that is exactly what these legends have done through the decades.
If you’re already a longtime fan of this amazing band, you’ll already be chomping at the bit to pick this one up. And if you’re a newcomer, welcome to the fold! You will want to pick this one up and continue delving into epic doom metal’s greatest and most enduring band. All hail the mighty Candlemass!