Epicus Doomicus Metallicus [Bonus CD]

• Artist: Candlemass
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 10, 2002
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

During the mid-80's, the European heavy metal scene was dominated by countless thrash, death, and black metal bands playing at breakneck speeds and screaming in a high-pitched frenzy. So when Candlemass released their debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in 1986, its songs (featuring slow, lumbering riffs straight out of the Black Sabbath handbook and vocals delivered in a baritone, operatic style) offered up a stylistic curve ball of shocking proportions. After disposing of its deceptively optimistic introductory acoustic guitar, opener "Solitude" develops into a complete monster, replete with lyrics of suicidal depression and churning with the most colossal, down-tuned guitar riff since Sabbath's "Iron Man." And that's just the beginning, as succeeding tracks "Demon's Gate," "Crystal Ball," and "Under the Oak" (later re-recorded in its definitive version for the band's fourth album Tales of Creation) trudge by with deliberate, immutable doom. Although the group's vision was startlingly well-conceived and unique for its time, bassist, songwriter and all-around group leader Leif Edling had yet to find all the right components. And despite offering the strongest, most consistent songwriting of the band's career, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus was let down by vocalist Johan Lanquist, whose performance failed to deliver with the power and command of his immediate successor Messiah Marcolin. A pillar of classic '80s metal nonetheless, this album will satisfy all doomsters. [The 2002 reissue adds a 1988 live show as a bonus disc.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Solitude	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(5:37)
Demons Gate	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(9:12)
Crystal Ball	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(5:22)
Black Stone Wielder	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(7:36)
Under the Oak	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(6:54)
A Sorcerer's Pledge	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(8:11)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Well of Souls [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(7:25)
Demons Gate [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(9:02)
Crystal Ball [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(5:18)
Solitude [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(6:26)
Bewitched [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(6:24)
A Sorcerer's Pledge [Live]	Leif Edling	Candlemass	(10:53)
Black Sabbath Medley [Live]	Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward	Candlemass	(6:12)

Credits

Candlemass (Producer), Candlemass (Artwork), Candlemass (Cover Art Concept), Jane Lind (Drums), Mats Bjorkman (Guitar), Mats Bjorkman (Group Member), Leif Edling (Bass), Leif Edling (Arranger), Leif Edling (Liner Notes), Leif Edling (Group Member), Jan Lindh (Drums), Messiah Marcolin (Vocals), Klas Bergwall (Guitar), Ulf Magnusson (Photography), Ulf Magnusson (Picture), Christian Weberyd (?), Jeanette Andersson (Reissue Layout), Micke Lind (Remastering), Johan Längquist (Vocals)