CANDLEMASS - Lucifer Rising
November 22, 2008, 15 years ago
(Nuclear Blast)
C-mass founder/mainstay Leif Edling has jokingly dubbed the latest three song effort as “the world’s longest EP,” as it also features the full Athens, Greece 2007 concert with new boy/American vocalist Rob Lowe. Nice touch for fans, not merely soaking them for a trio of studio tracks (‘Demons Gate’ being a re-recording of said track off the ‘86 debut). The title cut jumps right into an upbeat tempo, with distorted guitars and punishing bottom end. The lyrics, particularly towards the end, are quick, multiple repetitions of the titular phrase. ‘White God’ is a more typical Candlemass number, meandering and doomy (although both clock in just a hair over five minutes): fewer lyrics, greater emphasis on guitar passages. On the live material, Lowe is nearly drowned out by the overzealous Greek audience (and he’s amplified!). All told, it’s a good mix of classics and newer material, including ‘The King Of Grey Islands’ ‘Emperor Of The Void’, ‘Devil Seed’ and ‘Of Stars And Smoke’.
