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Reviews
Candlemass: Chapter VI
18/02/08 || Global Domination
People seem to agree that Candlemass went down the shitter during the 90’s, and possibly never recovered the inspiration that made their first 4 records so fucken brilliant. Is that truly so? To a certain extent, yes. I’ve got to admit it, even though I like every record from the band’s long career. The magnificent first four are just fucken untouchable classics and cornerstones of the doom genre, yet after reaching such heights, it can be said that the only way for Candlemass was down. And so it happened, but not in the disastrous way some overzealous reviewers will make you believe.
By the time “Chapter VI” was released, in 1992, Candlemass was going through the most turbulent period of their history, with lots of internal trouble. Mainman Leif Edling was starting to get distracted by his side project Abstrakt Algebra, and nowadays admits he didn’t put his bests songwriting efforts to task when creating the songs of “Chapter VI”. During the rehearsals for the album, iconic singer Messiah Marcolin left the band, after numerous dissensions. In the midst of all this, it’s almost understandable that the album that came out is not the best bearing the Candlemass name, but nevertheless, it can’t be called a polished turd at all.
Personally, I like this record a lot, but I reckon there’s a couple of subpar songs on it, and that it veered away from the sound that Candlemass had perfected on their legendary period. It’s fair to hold Leif Edling responsible for the perceived letdown, if only inspiration wise. A few clues come to mind in order to sustain this theory: a somewhat polished 80’s traditional heavy/power metal sound, keyboards, some hard-rockish riffs. New elements mixed in the pot, hardly fair motives to dismiss the record but without doubt a reflection of the uncertain creative period Leif was going through. Even so, the bulk of the songs are very solid and enjoyable compositions. The guys, as always, were more than competent handling their instruments, no better examples than the impeccable riffing and soloing from Johansson and Björkman, and the steadiness of Lindh behind the drumkit.
Thomas Vikström ably replaced Messiah, and I can’t find any faults on his performance here, he did a fucken great job. His voice had more of a power metal quality to it, but with Candlemass being a “power doom” band, it fits overall. Keeping in mind that there’s more power in this doom than ever before in the band’s discography, he’ll sound much more natural. Nice range, confident and technically sound, Vikström had it all going for him, and it’s a real shame that he featured in only this record. His passionate voice alone makes “Where the Runes Still Speak” one of the band’s greatest songs ever. This is a fucken epic track, a magnificent doom riff-fest, with awesome lyrics and decent keyboard solo to boot.
My complaints against “Chapter VI” are solely based on the excessive power metal feel that permeates the album sometimes(remember kids: Power+metal=Gay, Doom+metal=sad-manliness, as per the “Metal Math for Dummies” book!), and two half-assed songs: Temple of the Dead” and “Black Eyes”. The first is kinda of a disappointing bummer graced with substandard riffs, and the second has some incredibly silly lyrics and shrill tone too difficult to like. On the other hand, the first half of the album is excellent. “The Dying Illusion”, “Julie Laughs No More”, “The Ebony Throne” and “The End of Pain“are damn fine tracks, showcasing the best tendencies of the new-found style of the band. “Aftermath” is a bit doomier and kicks some serious ass, and “While the Runes Still Speak” is a juggernaut worth the price of admission by itself.
“Chapter VI”, while not the band’s best work to date, has been unjustly dismissed by many and given a largely unfounded poor reputation. For what it is, an infusion of more “power” to the old Candlemass formula, it works out quite well. A forgotten album that I’d say it’s worthy of a closer look by fans of the genre. Don’t let the fact that Messiah didn’t sing on it keep you away from it, Vikström is fucken impressive on his own right, so the vocals were kept to a high standard. Be warned though, “Chapter VI” is no “Nightfall”, but then, how many other albums can fucken compare? Suck on that!
7 dead Julies that won’t fucken laugh no more out of 10.
- Information
- Released: 1992
- Label: Music For Nations
- Website: www.candlemass.se
- Band
- Thomas Vikström: vocals
- Leif Edling: bass
- Mats Björkman: guitars
- Lars Johansson: guitars
- Jan Lindh: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. The Dying Illusion
- 02. Julie Laughs No More
- 03. Where the Runes Still Speak
- 04. The Ebony Throne
- 05. Temple of the Dead
- 06. Aftermath
- 07. Black Eyes
- 08. The End of Pain