Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

I'm not supposed to like this but I do. I really, really do.

Fuck it. I REALLY LIKE THIS ALBUM!

A little lesson in metal is necessary before I begin. Candlemass is a band from Sweden with a singer from the States. They've a very rich history of playing some of the best doom metal for the past three decades. Frankly, I don't care much for doom metal. This subgenre's name itself makes me yawn uncontrollably. Funnily enough, I got into this band because one of their 'faster' songs (in doom metal faster means not dirge-like), Lucifer Rising, made me sit up. This is some good shit! The best doom metal I've heard thus far was the mighty Black Sabbath who inadvertently gave birth to this genre and even then they're not considered doom metal.

I really don't know why but right after the fifth time spinning this from start to finish it dawned upon me that this is not only a damn good doom metal album, it's also a damn good album! While the lyrics won't exactly uplift you (it's called doom metal, for crying out loud!) but the way it's sung will make you grasp an invisible microphone and start yelling into your palms. What can I say about the riffs other than they'll make you wince in delight and start headbanging rhythmically to its ominous and foreboding sound.

Leif Edling, who's the ringleader of the band, is felt more than heard. Don't get me wrong, he may be a damn good songwriter (wrote all the music and lyrics for this) but as a bassist, well, thankfully I can get my bass noodling fix from one John Myung of Dream Theater. Yankee Robert Lowe, while doesn't possess a deep baritone voice like the previous vocalist, Messiah Marcolin (awesome stage name!), still has the chops to pull off low- and high- register octaves. I can't find no fault with his performance. The only gripe I can think of is that Hammer of Doom and My Funeral Dreams whilst being incredible songs, sound rather alike especially the chorus. But that's just nitpicking. I'm so sorry, I knew I shouldn't have. Gosh, I feel bad now...

Damnit! If doom metal can sound this so fucking good, then I need more!

Initial Rating: 8/10
Current Rating: 9/10

Exmortus - In Hatred's Flame

I've heard it all. Well, almost. When most people say they listen to everything, that's mostly a lie. Who the hell listens to everything? I bet you that if you played them traditional pan flute music they would be the first to shoot you with a sawed-off shotgun.

But this is not about these people. It's about Exmortus's debut album, In Hatred's Flame. And it fucking smokes.

Before I continue, I've nearly 12 or so years (give or take the odd year or two when I listened to radio dribble) of listening to heavy music, in particular metal. You name it, I've listened to it all; from crazily brutal death metal, stupidly Satanic black metal to the most sorry-sounding doom metal, my ears have been abused and ripped to shreds by loud guitars, pounding drums and some of the silliest vocals one could ever experience. So when I say that Exmortus not only makes me a happy metalhead, they also make me a pained one. But most of all is that I've never heard of anything like this. Maybe I've been an ignoramus but this is some pretty cool shit. You see, these dudes have combined my long-time favourite genre of thrash metal with neoclassical metal. Yes, the kind of metal Yngwie "I'm faster than a goddamn bullet train on steroids" Malmsteen plays with insanely fast precision on a Fender.

Right from the get-go, these four crazy Hispanic Californians (forgive me if I've gotten it wrong) unleash 43 minutes of blistering thrash metal infused with classical pieces unto the general public. It really is something extraordinary when you hear Malmsteen-like solos in a blackened thrash metal sound. The title track opens precedings with a macho riff while the closing song, Fimbulwinter, sends us straight into the abyss with its ominous main one. It must be said that after awhile your ears and probably your sanity will be begging for this to end. The high-pitched squeals whenever the two guitarists rip-up a solo can be quite exhausting. I know I was, and I've listened to so much metal you'd think my ears would be accustomed to such things.

The past few years have seen a resurgence in the thrash metal scene, which, is a good thing considering the overall metal scene is still being swamped with many a pseudo metal band popping up like bad rejects of X Factor. Bands like Exmortus, Lazarus A.D. and Warbringer are paving the way for thrash metal to come back and reign once again like in the 80's.

Minus the mullets, of course.

Initial Rating: 7/10
Current Rating: 7/10