Candlemass - Lucifer Rising

Well, in this case the things are so simple, when the ultimate masters of Epic Doom Metal releasing some new material, I only have to listen to it again and again and again…
\r\nAfter the release of 2007’s magnificent album “King of Grey Island”, this EP comes as the latest release of Candlemass. I consider this one as an EP release not due too the length but because it contains only two new tracks and a re recording of mega opus “Demon’s Gate”, that originally appeared on the first album by the Swedish gods, “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”  But for me the most precious part of this release are the tracks that have been recorded live , in Athens , at Gagarin 205 on Sunday the 30th of September of 2007 and I believe that it was just the right time for Candlemass to realize who is their greatest / die hard audience in the whole world (except from some brainless 15 year -  old auditors which were throwing plastic bottles of mineral water to Candlemass newest vocalist, and I ask my self, all these kids haven’t heard anything about Solitude Aeturnus)
\r\nAllright… back to the review now. The first track of the EP entitled “Lucifer Rising” that reminds a lot of the previous album of Candlemass, with many effects on the guitars, a great chorus on which, the backing vocals of Robert sounds like Rob Halford, weird huh? The weirdest thing is that song reminds a lot of “Painkiller”, but is a common knowledge that Leif’s favorite band is Judas Priest
\r\nSecond track comes also the new track “White God” that is more down tempo and has a more epic feeling with some essences from the Abstract Algebra project. The track has some classic Candlemass guitar solos, as for Robert’s voice is beyond any comparison.
\r\nThird track comes the re recording of “Demon’s Gate”. A quite different re take this one with the guitar sound closer to the today Candlemass sound, but for such an opus the words are nothing more than waste of time. Even if this track was re arranged to fit in to hip hop style of music, would still be the definition of Epic Doom Metal!
\r\nThe last section of the release are the live tracks from Athens, and I m not willing to discuss any further, just shivers running down my spine … “No rest for the sinner, hypnos Refused me my sleep…”
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\r\nLampros “Mourner’s Lament” Tennes
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