CANDLEMASS - King of the Grey Islands

Candlemass have managed without Marcolin before, so I hoped the new album would be without problems, especially since the replacement is Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus, another mainstay of the doom scene). And I was not mistaken; King of the Grey Islands is classic Candlemass, a gloomy album speaking about depression, anxiety, suicide, despair, antisocial feelings – all in an oppressive atmosphere from the beginning to the end. Heavy riffs are still there, but not as many as the previous album, and so are inspired solos, the rhythmic section is more than just support, keyboards strengthen the dramatic moments, and the voice has a special timbre that goes along nicely with the instruments. My favorite is Man of Shadows, but Clearsight (slightly faster), Embracing the Styx (with superb lyrics) and Of Stars and Smoke (a little doom jewel) are good songs too, and the re-recordings of the classic At the Gallows End and Solitude are part of the digipack edition and a must-have for a doom listener (but not only). King of the Grey Islands is a great album that you must not only listen to, but also feel.

(+) a very inspired and depressive album, a Candlemass trademark
(-) while good, it’s not as good as Candlemass

Mad Nota: 9