EP REVIEW: Black Star – Candlemass

Considering that CANDLEMASS introduced themselves to the world with a song begging to be allowed to die in solitude, the opening to Black Star is a big surprise. The line “I’ve got a reason to live, your fatal beauty,” is the sort of lovestruck romanticism that you’d expect from guys like Ville Valo, not the kings of melancholic, riff-drenched doom metal. But fear not, CANDLEMASS haven’t gone all misty-eyed and it’s not long before the guitars thunder into life, and Johan Länquist’s lyrics become more pained and hopeless. It’s another classic example of the epic doom metal that the Swedes all but invented back in the eighties and a fine way to mark their anniversary.

For while it might be on the moody side, this four song EP is really a celebration of their long and illustrious career. There’s a lot of minor keys in the bluesy guitar melodies, and Johan’s rich voice conveys immense depths of sorrow, but there’s a real sense of achievement here. CANDLEMASS have spent the last forty years playing some of the most miserable metal you can imagine, and they’re positively rejoicing in it.

The title track is the main event of course, and it’s a strong addition to their discography. The only other original song here is an instrumental, but there’s a couple of entertaining covers as well. CANDLEMASS’s take on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is essential listening for any genre aficionados, and as you can imagine, it’s a blast. Leif Edling and the boys sound like they’re having enormous fun playing those classic Iommi chords and for six minutes, the veteran Swedes have all the energy of excited teenagers who just nailed it in the rehearsal room.

In comparison, their interpretation of PENTAGRAM’s Forever My Queen isn’t quite as good, but it’s no shame to come in second place to BLACK SABBATH. Both covers are played reasonably straight and don’t deviate from the originals, but they’re fun, if a little throwaway.

But like all EPs, Black Star is far from a must-have. The title track is reliably good, the instrumental is decent, and the covers are entertaining, but in truth the music itself isn’t the main selling point. It’s the fact that CANDLEMASS have lasted so long that’s the chief factor and these four tracks are a potent reminder that forty years playing bad ass heavy metal isn’t nearly enough. Here’s to a few more decades, thank goodness we didn’t let them die in solitude.

Rating: 7/10

Black Star is set for release on May 9th via Napalm Records.

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