Candlemass
From The 13th Sun

For those who have assimilated the lesson of Black Sabbath, the name Candlemass speaks volumes. An important band within the now vastly crowded doom metal scene: a reality capable of influencing a genre, of producing works of undeniable quality like "Nightfall" and "Ancient Dreams," and also capable of arriving at an epic and old style metal, far from the more inherently "technological," decadent, and "slick" soul that is pervading the genre in question. A glorious history, a past to consider: but just like other bands in the sector and beyond, eventually the dark period and difficulties come for everyone. Candlemass began their declining phase with the departure of singer Messiah Marcolin between the end of '91 and the beginning of '92, with Edling and company having to reinvent themselves first with Thomas Vikstrom and then with Bjorn Flodkvist behind the microphone.

This "From The 13th Sun" is the second effort released with Flodkvist, after the maligned "Dactylis Glomerata": a work perhaps received negatively more for its "experimental nature" than for the actual quality of its content. A less powerful, more refined doom, one might almost say "psychedelic" is presented again in "From...," possibly even more emphasized and far from the theatricality of a vintage "Nightfall."

The variety of solutions, the greater instrumental success of some key parts of the CD, but more generally a higher and more inspired songwriting: these are the factors that make the CD in question undoubtedly a "minor" work in the Swedes' career but still worthy of attention and capable of raising the bar compared to "Dactylis Glomerata." Moving beyond the canonical doom of the opening track, "Droid" (a track that is nonetheless successful and features an excellent refrain), it is interesting to focus on "Tot." A track evidently outside the "normal" standards of Candlemass: a dark mood upon which Leif Edling's bass work stands, before a powerful surge at the end. The same "lysergic" impulses and doom slowdowns in "Blumma Apt," another successful piece before "Arx/Ng 891", a track lacking particularly interesting points. If another example is really needed to clarify how this album sounds, just listen to "Galatea," the umpteenth proof of how the direction is different from the works with Marcolin on vocals.

The doom and Candlemass themselves are niche realities, and within the Scandinavians' discography "From The 13th Sun" is an even more niche product. An interesting album for its "different" approach, but also for a superior quality level compared to DG. An episode in the story of the doomsters that has the peculiarities to be rediscovered.

1. "Droid" (4:35)
2. "Tot" (6:02)
3. "Elephant Star" (4:55)
4. "Blumma Apt" (5:23)
5. "ARX/NG 891" (5:56)
6. "Zog" (5:52)
7. "Galatea" (4:49)
8. "Cyclo-F" (9:19)
9. "Mythos" (1:12)