Celebrating their 40th anniversary, the pioneers of the doom genre, Candlemass, released their latest EP, the mighty “Black Star”. Featuring two brand new tracks & two covers from legendary bands Black Sabbath & Pentagram, this release is the perfect way to celebrate a phenomenal career for the group!
The opening & title track “Black Star” is a Candlemass track through & through. Opening with a beautiful acoustic passage while Johan Länquist’s soaring & glorious vocals lull it into a mesmerising warm blanket. But just as you’re starting to feel comfortable, the band opens the track to this ball’s heavy riff. Mappe Björkman has written a riff that blends classic early era Candlemass with a touch of the modern doom / sludgy vibe.
As Länquist sings “Black Star, Black Star” along with the rhythm of the chorus’s groovy riff, it gives that grand epic Candlemass feel. As the track flows, the band changes things up nicely. As the lead solo section by Lars Johansson bridges the song’s second half to this nice climbing riff, it gives us that acoustic section again before the band lets loose and gives it full welly! A footstomper style riff drives the second part of the track & brings up the pace nicely before the band gives you the payoff & closes out the track with the epic doom heavy riff. Giving you everything shade of Candlemass’s sound in one track. Nicely done, chaps.
“Corridors Of Chaos”, the second new track, opens up with the most gorgeous distorted, fuzzed-out groove riff that is the DNA of the doom metal genre. Drummer Janne Lind’s big, heavy-hitting drums drive this opening section of the track, really hitting us hard with snare hits & A heavy kick drum foot. Blasting you through the chest, almost with how heavy this track is. As we reach the near three-minute mark, the track goes even heavier, somehow making the riffs even more punishing. It might only be an instrumental track but damn this one is a solid headbanger of a track.
For the B-Side of the EP are two classic tracks from Sabbath & Pentagram. First up is “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, now Sabbath covers can tread a fine line. Some bands can straight up cover the track but lose the sense the band originally had, or they can switch things up, and it feels like too much of a departure. Luckily, Candlemass’s cover, I don’t know, has made this now a true classic track even heavier. Yes, you read that right, this cover is HEAVIER than the original but still holds the tracks flair & is a superb tribute to the original. Länquist’s vocals on this track are a true highlight, giving it his all, balls out & it truly pays off.
Closing track “Forever My Queen” yet again is a flawless cover. Evoking the Bobby Liebling spirit, this track is hard as nails. Not many bands can match the power Pentagram has. Bassist Leif Edling holds the tone on this one. His bass drives the track & sounds ungodly. This first pump of a classic merges so perfectly with the Candlemass overall vibe, so it’s a muchly refreshing cover we luckily get to blast to max volume.
With a career spanning 40 years, this EP feels like a great way to celebrate the legacy of such an iconic band. With a new track that feels like it’s harping classic era Candlemass, but also adding in the feel of their newer material. A superb instrumental & two covers of bands that surely helped influence the band’s sound. This EP is perfect to be played at full volume, beer in hand & horns in the sky with the other. The legends never die.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Black Star is out via Napalm Records on 9th May 2025
04.07.25 TR – Istanbul / Headbangers Weekend
06.12.25 UK – Wolverhampton / Bloodstock Winter Gathering
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