Candlemass: "the Door to Doom"

Swedish Doom overlords are back with Johan Langquist. Yes, the singer from their first album. At 55 his voice has held up reasonably well.He has a very Dio like quality to his voice. I know whats next where is Toni Iommi. Press made it sound like this was an album he was doing with Candlemass, like he was part of the band . This is not the case he only plays on one song. I think the second song is better than the opener. It's more driven and focused. Are the riffs almost like watered down Black Sabbath ?Yes, but weren't they always. They do play with more dynamics on "Under the Ocean" and give the vocals plenty of breathing room, so it's more like Dio Sabbath than the more blues infused Ozzy years.

When Iommi does show up on the "Great Octopus" song. It doesn't sound that much different. The verse riff is more subdued. The chorus finds the vocals doubled up , so the only thing different is sounds like Iommi is soloing. While his guitar solos are some of the best, I am not sure it's the key selling point for this album as a whole. Though three songs in the album is pretty impressive and worth your time if you are into doom. Granted if you are here for nostalgia because you like their first album, the tones found here could belong to any number of modern doom metal bands so they are not trying to revisit yester year. "Bridge of the Blind " is more of a ballad that sounds like something from Sabbath's late 80s post -Dio years.

"Death's Wheel" has more of a classic metal to it. The wheel is not being re-invented, and unlike some of their mid period work it doesn't drag. "Black Trinity" I had to listen to several times before It demanded I pay attention.  It does have a big stomp to it. In the second half of the song it gets more adventurous and reaches beyond the normal metal bag of tricks. The lyrics are terrible and  metal  Dr Suess, with pseudo satanic over tones that are just for fun. The witch doctor drums the guitar solo comes in over is more spooky.

Pipe organs on "House of Doom" create a "Mr.Crowley" feel though after the song builds speed after it there is musically more of a King Diamond. Johan stays firmly in his chest register bellowing more than crooning. The album ends with "the Omega Circle" which like the Dio era Sabbath I referenced earlier starts softer before the bring the crunch in. Not the most epic or mindblowing end to the album , but it doesn't suck either, though is it the return to form you had hoped for? I'll give it an 8.5 as the moments that might feel as inspired are still so well done they fool you. Napalm Records is releasing this Feb 22nd.