UMUR "Death Thy Lover" is an EP release by Swedish doom metal act Candlemass. It´s the band´s first release featuring new original material since the release of the "Psalms for the Dead" album from 2012. The EP was released through Napalm Records in June 2016. "Death Thy Lover" features a new lead vocalist in Mats Levén as Robert Lowe left Candlemass in 2012 after a six year stint with the band. Levén had shortly been a member of Candlemass in 2006 before Lowe joined, so he is not completely new in that respect.

Levén is of course known for his vocal contributions to artists like Krux and Abstract Algebra (both of which also featured Candlemass bassist Leif Edling in the lineup), Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Fatal Force, and Aeonsgate, just to name a few of the projects he has been involved in, so he is quite the prolific singer and definitely a worthy replacement for Lowe. Stylistically "Death Thy Lover" is exactly what you´d expect it to be if you´re already familiar with the last couple of releases by the band (new lead vocalist or not). It´s crushingly heavy yet relatively melodic doom metal (with occasional traditional heavy metal leanings), and feautures both powerful riffs and rhythms and catchy choruses.

The EP opens with three tracks featuring vocals and then closes with the instrumental "The Goose". All four tracks are of high compositional class and it´s hard not to be impressed by the high standards of Candlemass. Add to that high level musicianship and a powerful and clear sounding production, and "Death Thy Lover" comes off a great quality release. Featuring a total playing time of 25:28 minutes you also get a fair deal of quantity for your money, and a 4 star (80%) rating is therefore fully deserved.

Time Signature Sinister n sweet...

Genre: traditional doom metal

The Swedish legends of doom metal are back, treating you to a nice little four-track EP in the form of "Death Thy Lover".

The EP opens with a mostly uptempo affair in the form of the title track, which does go into heavier territory in the bridge. While the verses and chorus are fine, my favorite part is the bridge which consists of a series of different sections, thus generating a sense of variation. The second track 'Sleeping Giant' is slower and more in the vein of traditional doom metal, revolving around an Iommi-esque riff and doomtastic chorus which is really the epitome of all that's great about old school doom metal. Unlike the title track which was more of a traditional heavy metal song with doom metal elements, this one is all out doom metal. 'Sinister N Sweet' continues in the same groove, offering some crushingly heavy riffage combined with a doom-ladden, yet melodic, bridge. Lastly, there is the instrumental 'The Goose', which is another heavy doom-ladden track - perhaps the heaviest and most atmospheric track on the EP.

Compared to most of their previous output, "Death Thy Lover" is not very epic. I think this owes to Mats Levén's more raspy and rock-oriented singing style. Levén is a very experienced vocalist who has performed with a host of bands since the 1990s, including Abstrakt Algebra, and who has had tenures with Candlemass before, so I totally understand why they went with him as a replacement for Robert Lowe. The guy is an accomplished rock singer, but it will some time getting used to his singing style on top of Candlemass' musical compositions - in particular when one is used to more operatically oriented singers like Robert Lowe and Messiah Marcolin or the legendary and very emotional singing style of Johan Längquist who sang on the legendary classic "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus". I have nothing against his singing style; it's just different. When you think about it, all the vocalists that Candlemass have had actually sound very different from each other anyway.

The four tracks on the EP are well written and well performed, and the production is pretty good without being polished. I like that the EP is structured such that it gets progressively heavier and doomier with each song.

Overall, "Death Thy Lover" is a fine and solid release by one of the most influential doom metal bands around. Fans of traditional doom metal are bound to enjoy it.