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Product Details:
Audio CD Release Date:
July 17, 2007
Studio:
Nuclear Blast Americ
Number Of Discs:
1
Average Customer Rating:
based on 9 reviews
Description:
Prepare Yourself for a True Epic Doom Classic!
Track Listing:
1.
Prologue
2.
Emperor of the Void
3.
Devil Seed
4.
Of Stars and Smoke
5.
Demonia 6
6.
Destroyer
7.
Man of Shadows
8.
Clearsight
9.
The Opal City
10.
Embracing the Styx
11.
At the Gallows End
12.
Solitude
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Beyond what was expectedOct 14, 2008 I've own all the Candlemass albums up till now and I must say that I was pleasantly suprized with this one. Their self titled album left MUCH to be desired. But with this CD and a new singer they are back in top form. No, they are not rehashing the old flames here, but carving a new path. The singing and song writing are top notch and the production is what you would expect from a Doom Metal album. I haven't enjoyed Candlemass this much since I first got Tales of Creation back in '90. If you like Doom/Sludge Metal regardless of your knowledge of Candlemass, I HIGHLY recommend this disk. New singer, new spirit, new life. Bye Malcolm, hello Candlemass!!! I'm just hoping their next disk "Lucifer Rising" is as good as this disk.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Is that Messiah's Skull on the Cover?Apr 06, 2008 I felt let down by the latest Candlemass album. Their last effort was a blistering, enjoyable, wonderfully balanced and in some ways, epic album. It really embodied what Doom metal was about and each song was well crafted, well produced, and solid.
While I am a big fan of Rob Lowe of Solitude Aeturnus, I can't help but feel that this latest album was more the product of Leif Eidlings execution with much less creative input or shared vision from Lowe. I say this because the album sounds to me like a testosterone pumped version of Eidling's other band, Krux.
I don't particularly think this album adds to the genre, I find the production is not as crisp or warm as the last. In short, this appears to be a run-in album. Oh dear, where's Messiah's majestic and bombastic voice? I think we need it again...
Let's hope the next Candlemass album with Lowe in it sounds like CANDLEMASS and not KRUX!
Alternate suggestion - Concept of God - 'Visions'
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
I miss MessiahJan 23, 2008 Let it be known that Candlemass are one of my favorite bands (I have an Epicus Doomicus tattoo, okay), and this review is heavily biased, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt. I was skeptical of the new singer of course, and bought the album based on the previous reviews with high hopes. I've given it several chances and I just couldn't get into it. There are only two problems I have with this album: First of all, most obviously... Robert is a fantastic singer but just can't match the power and character of Messiah's vocals. It's kind of a let-down in comparison. Granted, these are some hefty shoes to fill, so you've got to give him credit. But all the same, it's a let-down. Robert's vocals are a bit nasal compared to Messiah's gutsy howl that only a fat man in a robe could provide. That's all a matter of opinion though. The thing that really ruined this album for me, is the production just seems below par for Candlemass. Their last album sounded so much better. This record sounds rushed, and it doesn't have the huge, powerful sound that the last album boasted. You gotta admire Candlemass for carrying on against all odds, but let's face it, Messiah Marcolin was the man responsible for getting us really riled up about this band. I'm sure plenty of people disagree with me on this, and that's cool. And also, where's all the blazing guitar solos on this album? The whole thing sounds like a demo.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Dark TriumphDec 27, 2007 Candlemass have definitely resurrected themselves as the standardbearers of doom metal with their latest effort, King of the Grey Islands (KOTGI). I was actually reluctant to buy this abum off Amazon because of their slightly disappointing 2005 self-titled album with Messiah Marcolin back on vox. When I heard through a friend that Texan doom metaller Robert Lowe had joined the ranks after Marcolin's (second) departure, I decided to buy it. It has turned out to be one of the better CDs I've purchased this year.
I was turned on to Candlemass about 3 years ago when I was listening to acts like High on Fire, The Obsessed, and Saint Vitus. I bought Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, Nightfall, and Ancient Dreams, and chewed on those three for a few years, deciding that my fling with the Candlemass catalogue was over. I then heard about the 2005 Candlemass "reunion" album and quiclkly snatched it up. For reasons that don't appply here, it was a letdown. I later saw on Candlemass's website that they were looking for a new singer and thought to myself, "they must be in real dire straits and whoever they get can't fill Marcolin's *rather large* shoes." I was wrong.
Robert Lowe, front man for the Texas doom metal band, Solitude Aeturnus, answered the call on KOTGI. Lowe's vocals throughout the entire album are clean, crisp, and powerful. He doesn't sound strained or tired but very comfortable in this range and style, and his vocals are without a doubt the highlight of the album. I've read that KOTGI is acutally a concept album about a young man battling depression (surprise), dubbing himself the "King of the Grey Islands". Plot Spoiler: He loses his battle with depression by suicide at the end of the album. Thankfully, each song lyrically stands on its own. The lyrics for each song are dark and brooding, centering around themes like depression ("Emperor of the Void"), suicide ("Embracing the Styx"), a shipwreck ("Clearsight"), inflicting violence out of frustration ("Destroyer"), and sin ("Devil Seed"). The album's mood and tone can be summed up in one statement from "Of Stars and Smoke": "ALL IS IN VAIN."
Musically, KOTGI is a step or two above the tired sounding 2005 effort. Janne Lindh (drums) and Leif Edling (bass) provide a solid, driving foundation for the guitar work of Lasse Johansson and Mappe Bjorkman. I am particularly impressed with the thick, crunchy twin guitar attack on this album. Johansson and Bjorkman seem to compliment each other so completely. The left-handed Johansson's shredding is rather impressive - no noodling; just solid, straight-forward solos. Mostly minor keys at mid-to-slow tempo songs dominate the album, with the exception of the fast-paced opener "Emperor of the Void". "Prologue" and "The Opal City" are instrumentals.
The artwork and packaging are what you would expect from a doom metal album - dominated by black, no frills. Each page of the booklet has a b&w photo of a band member's face with a light shining up from below them (gloriously creepy!). Lyrics are included (which are important for me, but my wife thinks that makes me a dork).
Overall, KOTGI is highly recommended for those fans of traditional doom metal, from the founders of the genre. Nobody does it better than Candlemass...
P.S. Pick up Candlemass's "Nightfall" and Solitude Aeturnus's "Alone" for further study. You won't be disappointed.
I Took a ChanceSep 30, 2007 Well I was in My Favorite Record store...which has a Huge Metal section,and I saw this C.D. in the new release section.I remembered hearing of this Band somewhere,So.....I thought I would just take a chance on them.I am really Glad I did!!!!This C.D. will hit your ears like a Sledgehammer!!!And I mean that in the Best possible way!!!Beautiful Metal Music,vocals are pretty clear on this recording...Its hard for Me to get into Metal songs who have vocalists that are unintelligible.I guess My Intuition lead Me to a very good choice when I purchased this C.D.Excellent,Excellent Metal!!!!!!!!!
based on 9 reviews
