With the release of their debut album “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” in 1986, Candlemass turned heads and pioneered a whole new genre of epic doom metal. The Swedish band has recently released the “House of Doom” EP via Napalm Records to whet the appetites of fans for a full length album release sometime this fall.
Led by bassist and principal songwriter Leif Edling, Candlemass is back with their frenzied riffs and sludgy melancholy sounds. Their present lineup has been in place since 2012 and the band really gels together as one. The EP contains four new tunes including the title track “House of Doom.” The song opens with the pealing of church bells with horror movie organ courtesy of keyboardist Jan Lindh’s classic Hammond before the guitar of Lars Johansson kicks in midway for some mind melting solos. “Flowers of Deception” is a heavy doom and gloom sprinkled with tempo changes. Vocalist Mats Leven puts in a commanding performance throughout especially on the stripped down ballad “Fortuneteller” while the songwriting of Edling and technical mastery of the band is on full display on “Dolls on a Wall,” an instrumental that simply oozes destruction and ruination.
“House of Doom” is proof yet again that nobody does doom like the Swedish masters of Candlemass. Pour yourself a drink, dim the lights, and turn this one up!
