CANDLEMASS — Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (review)

CANDLEMASS — Epicus Doomicus Metallicus album cover

Album · 1986 · Traditional Doom Metal

4.5/5 · 2010-11-02
UMUR

"Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish doom metal act Candlemass. The album was released through Black Dragon Records in June 1986. Candlemass was formed out of the ashes of bassist/composer Leif Edling´s and rhythm guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman´s first act Nemesis. Nemesis released the "The Day of Retribution" EP in 1984 and some material from the Nemesis days were actually later reworked into Candlemass material.

Stylistically the music on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is crushingly heavy, melodic and epic doom metal with a power metal edge. Right off the bat the music is instantly recognisable as the sound of Candlemass. This is not a warm-up debut album where the band had to find their way and develop their style. The songwriting is top notch, the musicianship are excellent on all posts and the sound production is heavy, powerful and raw, and brings out the best in the music. A quality album through and through.

Most people who know Candlemass output from the 80s tend to identify the band with the semi-operatic and distinct sounding voice and vocal delivery by Messiah Marcolin but on this debut album the vocals are handled by Johan Lanquist. While there are some similarities between the two singer´s voices, Johan Lanquist is not quite as distinct sounding as Messiah Marcolin but that´s not necessarily a bad thing as Messiah Marcolin´s vocal style can at times be an exhausting listening experience. To my ears Johan Lanquist is one of the strongest doom metal vocalists I´ve yet encountered. his vocal performance on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" sat the bar for future doom metal vocalists. He has a strong voice, which he controls and varies to perfection. The heavy riffs, the heavy beats, the melodic guitar solos and the tight yet organic interplay are other highlights that deserve a mention.

The 43:02 minutes long album features 6 tracks of the finest melodic doom metal. The album opens with the strong "Solitude" and continues to impress all the way through. When I get to the 5th track on the album "Under the Oak" I´m simply ready to pick my jaw up from the floor, that´s how great the quality of the material is on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus". The closing track "A Sorcerer's Pledge" makes the greatly enjoyable listening experience complete. There´s not a single sub par moment on the album.

"Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" is a seminal melodic doom metal album from the 80s and fully deserves a 4.5 star (90%) rating. Unfortunately this incarnation of Candlemass had already broken up before the release of this album and it would take the remaining members the better part of a year to assemble a new lineup and record the band´s 2nd full-length studio album "Nightfall (1987)".

more than 2 years ago
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The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Glad to see some props to the vocalist. I guess being an outsider to the band I don't have the bias many seem to have with Marcolin. He was damn good but I agree it can be tiresome...I LOVE the vocals on EDM though. They're perfect and convey so much despair

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

There's a certain melancholy to Johan's voice, which suits the heavy doomy music very well.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Oh yeah he is a more distinct and unique vocalist, but Johan is pretty exceptional too.

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

That being said, I do think that Marcolin does a great job on the following three LPs.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah I understand that couple of the musicians on the album were only session players including Johan. One of the greatest doom metal vocalists I´ve heard yet.

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Nice review. I personally love Johan's voice. A shame he decided not to stay with the band as a full time member.