CANDLEMASS — From the 13th Sun (review)

CANDLEMASS — From the 13th Sun album cover Album · 1999 · Traditional Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"From the 13th Sun" is the 7th full-length studio album by Swedish doom metal act Candlemass. The album was released through Music For Nations in September 1999. After being highly successful in the 1980s, Candlemass experienced a descreasing interest from fans and critics alike during the early part of the 1990s, and as a consequence disbanded in 1994. Bassist/main composer Leif Edling however reformed Candlemass 3 years later and released "Dactylis Glomerata (1998)". Leif Edling was the only remaining member from before the split-up and as a result of that, and probably the input of the new members, "Dactylis Glomerata (1998)" is a rather different sounding Candlemass album. That tendency is continued on "From the 13th Sun", which despite sharing three members of the lineup with it´s predecessor, sounds quite different from it, and also quite different from anything else in the band´s discography.

In their endless adoration and outspoken praise of early Black Sabbath, Candlemass turned the music on "From the 13th Sun" into a kind of tribute of the classic 1970s Black Sabbath sound. Candlemass were never afraid to talk about their influences and they certainly make sure to make a clear statement here about it because as it says in the booklet: "This album is dedicated to the greatest band of all time - Black Sabbath".

Lead vocalist Bjorn Flodkvist at times sounds almost too much like Ozzy Osbourne for comfort (he is a skilled singer though), but when that is said "From the 13th Sun" is still umistakably the sound of Candlemass. It just doesn´t sound like they did in the 80s. They might be heavily influenced by the pioneers of the genre, but they´ve always managed to produce something unique anyway. The tracks on "From the 13th Sun" are generally powerful, dark and heavy doom metal tracks with a slight psychadelic edge. Most tracks are entertaining, well played/sung, and well produced too (the sound production is both powerful and organic sounding, suiting the music well), but to my ears the instrumental "Zog" is a bit too repetitive and long drawn.

Overall "From the 13th Sun" is not the most original or unique doom metal album Candlemass ever released but that certainly doesn´t mean it´s not a quality release by any means. In fact it´s a pretty good take on the more dark psychadelic tinged side of traditional doom metal, and as an experiment/the "odd one out" in the band´s discography it works pretty well as variation. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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