Swedish doom legends are back at it again with another scorcher of a release with Sweet Evil Sun, their latest effort for Napalm Records, and once proof that a longtime, legacy metal band can still create some of their strongest material late in their career. Now, I've been following this band since their second album Nightfall back in the 1980's, and while that might forever be my favorite album from this band, I can't help but think that their last few releases rank pretty high up there with that drop dead classic. This album is now the second in a row since 2019's The Door to Doom since original vocalist Johan Langquist joined the band full-time, after only appearing as a studio singer for their debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus back in 1986. He joins once again bassist Leif Edling, guitarists Mats "Mappe" Björkman & Lars Johansson, and drummer Jan Lindh.
As a lover of pure, unadulterated doom, tracks like "Wizard of the Vortex", "Sweet Evil Sun" (love the Hammond organ here too alongside those massive riffs), "Angel Battle", and "Black Butterfly" click all the right buttons, with Johan's venomous snarl stabbing through a non-stop barrage of crushing doom riffs and piledriving drums. "When Death Sighs" is just chilling and massive at the same time...the riffs simply destroy, and 'Scandinavian Gods" will get you hoisting your fist in the air and signing along. Some acoustic guitar accompanies the otherwise muscular "Devil Voodoo", and the galloping "Crucified" kicks things into high-gear, for what might be my favorite song on the album. "Goddess" slows things down to monolithic doom gear, and riffs mighty, Johan soaring to the heavens...unreal stuff, before Leif's bass and some monstrous riffs take us out on the closing instrumental "A Cup of Coffin". Everywhere you turn, there's one killer riff after another, and Lars' lead guitar solos are drop dead stunning.
Just a magnificent, magnificent album, and if you are a doom lover like me, this will be one of your favorite albums of 2022. Long may Candlemass reign supreme!
Track Listing
1.
Wizard Of The Vortex 06:02
2.
Sweet Evil Sun 03:40
3.
Angel Battle 06:29
4.
Black Butterfly 05:46
5.
When Death Sighs 05:59
6.
Scandinavian Gods 04:36
7.
Devil Voodoo 07:36
8.
Crucified 06:24
9.
Goddess 06:07
10.
A Cup Of Coffin (Outro) 01:12
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