When a song just starts with no preamble, it usually means it’s bursting with urgency.
That’s not something you generally associate with Candlemass, but “Black Star” does exactly that.
Within a minute, though, it’s doing Candlemass things. That is to say: the masters of Doom are back, baby.
It’s impressive, immersive, and occult—Lars Johansson soars on lead guitar, and that’s before the acoustic section and the bass line that ties it all together.
Arguably the best six minutes of metal this year so far, it feels like a birthday gift from Candlemass themselves, given that this EP is how they’ve chosen to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
A second new track, “Corridors of Chaos,” is perhaps heavier and more oppressive—made all the more so by its instrumental nature. The brilliant voice of Johan Längquist usually gives their sound a kind of airy lift that most bands of this type don’t have.
“Black Star” is rounded out by a couple of covers. Their version of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is genuinely brilliant—they just turn it into a Candlemass song for fun, with Längquist channeling some Dio spirit over an interesting new arrangement.
They do something similar with Pentagram’s short and sweet “Forever My Queen.” In and out in under three minutes.
Always ready to surprise, but always ready to be class. If you’re like me and long for the days of CD singles before the internet ruined everything, let “Black Star” take you to the abyss.
RATING: 8.5/10
