Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Candlemass - Solitude ORIGINAL VIDEO: • Solitude Patreon: www.patreon.com/criticalreactions Twitter: critreactions
Hey! Thanks for reacting to the Candleband. This song is indeed old: from their first album, released in 1986. If you like the idea of Epic doom metal you could try another Candlemass album, maybe a newer one... they've churned through about 10 vocalists (some more cheesy than others) so it's like a lucky dip! Again you make great points - doom is about achieving the mood, not showing off technical ability. This song is a classic for the genre, an early blueprint that is nothing else is a great example of the genre. That's why many suggested it.
Solitude is a very "core" doom metal song by them but other songs have far more involved things particularly on guitar solos (Bewitched guitar solo modulates both harmony and rhythm mid way through the guitar solo and it just create fantastic effect) but I can see this genre is probably not going to be for you at least on this more raw implementation. Although you might like Nick Holmes vocals from Paradise Lost if you check songs like True Belief, As I die, Enchantment, etc.
Ah, I don't understand how anyone can recommend "Solitude" over "Sorcerer's Pledge". This is nearly criminal. The latter is such a more... immersive experience.
I totally agree , Solitude and Samarithan are the songs that get most reactions and it's like Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and "Paranoid" they are great songs don't get me wrong but they are so easy listening comparing to other Sabbath's masterpieces that is getting annoying . Candlemass on the other hand had "Under the Oak" from the same album with that brake in the middle and the turn that takes the song to a true Doom Metal path and don't get me started on the masterpiece that is "Sorcerer's Pledge" , it's so good especially live
Your points about length and boredom are interesting, and I would love to hear what you find out about it. In the end they want to make songs that drag you down, but not overstay their welcome. Managing that is what separates good and bad doom. If I may suggest some other Candlemass tracks I personally like: "House of a 1000 Voices" - With singer Robert Lowe, who has a 40-cigarettes-and-a-bottle-of-whiskey-per-day voice, and while this may not be his most impressive singing capabilities, it's a song that gives me the chills, partly due to it's dark subject matter. Also try "Embracing the Styx", where he shows off some softer vocals at the end of the track. The entirety of the "King of the Grey Islands" and "Death Magic Doom" albums are great in my opinion. "Astorolus - The Great Octopus" - With original singer Johan Längqvist from the Epicus Doomicus Metallicus album, who (fun fact) left the band just after it's release in '86, and has not done anything musical (at least not publicly) until returning 35 years later on their latest (2019) album. After 35 years, the more elderly voice Johan has by now suits them well. Also, a guitar solo by Tony Iommi, as if the Black Sabbath influence wasn't clear enough. "The Well of Souls" - With singer Messiah Marcolin, notorious for his quite operatic voice. Personally not a huge fan of this era in the band's history, but it must be mentioned anyway. I'm fairly sure the level of cheese will put you off, but there's no mistake he was a great singer, especially if you like vibrato... Edited for spacing. Or not RU-vid hates paragraphs.
This is about as pure Doom Metal as you can get and it's so good. It's just dark and heavy and showcases the Doom side of Metal's heaviness instead of the Thrash side. It's just so underrepresented and misunderstood. Speaking of that...yeah, this song is definitely not 90s, it's the 80s right here. You were right on with it being an older and more classic style of Metal, but I'm surprised you thought this had 90s sensibilities, cause I don't hear that at all. About things I'm not hearing...I just don't get people who are going after classic soaring rock and metal vocals. I've seen so much of this where people always seem to say..."man, I just can't get into _these_ vocals" and it confuses me. The classic Heavy Metal archetype is the rumbling, heavy band rocking underneath, and the vocalist soaring above with impressive vocals in an impressive range and punching through the chaos below. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I wonder how much people appreciate great, powerful singing anymore. And, trust me, I'm not some old, out of touch coot who hates everything new, and I am familiar with all the forms of Metal, including extreme varieties and harsh vocals. Still think this take makes absolutely no sense. You described them as being "effortless" and having "low energy"...How? What I would say is that these vocals are soaring, dark, powerful, and perhaps even grim. They add to the evil and punch through the heaviness. The last thing I'd call them is "cringy" or "cheesy". Last thing, real quick since this is already long, I don't agree with saying that this song goes nowhere or does nothing. Yeah, Doom is about being doomy and gloomy and creating an atmosphere of oppression and darkness...but that clearly is about doing something...it's trying to achieve that. Maybe if you're used to listening to tons of Prog stuff and complex stuff (and, mind you, I'm a big fan of Prog), then perhaps a simple structure could be perceived as "going nowhere", but sometimes where you are is where you want to be, and achieving that is what you are doing. Putting in many parts and having changes for the sake of it could easily be seen as being "aimless" if not pulled off well. Novelty doesn't necessarily mean you're going somewhere and doing something and sameness or similarity doesn't necessarily mean you haven't gone anywhere and done anything.
it really didnt. There was bands doing this stuff waaay earlier. Witchfinder General, St Vitus, Pagan Altar, hell even Black Sabbath themselves did true doom (Check out Under the Sun on Vol. 4)
Aw, damn! Neurosis didn't make the cut... Disappointing, but I get it. I REALLY hope you get to them sometime! Any song that's named after the album tends to be a good one to start with! Love the content though man, much appreciated!
I'll second everyone else who mentioned Swallow the Sun, Saturnus, Novembers Doom and Draconian. The most doom band I've been made aware of is Konvent, though they're death/doom. You might find Convulsing "Relent" interesting, but it's more a combination of death and black with some doom elements that makes for a oppressive and gloomy atmosphere.
Haven't seen this yet, but for a little background; this album is where the genre got its name from, and many people (including myself) still consider it the pinnacle and touchstone for the genre. The entire genre came from bands that thought Black Sabbath had the right idea all along and returned to the riff/atmosphere-based form of metal that Sabbath had pioneered, which had largely been lost by the post-Sabbath metal bands (Priest, Maiden, Motorhead, Metallica, etc.) in favor of speed and complexity. FWIW, though this is Candlemass's most popular song, it's nowhere near one of my favorites. I would've preferred something like Demon's Gate or At the Gallows End.
The bassist in Candlemass, Leif, created a new band called Avatarium. He has left them now but the first, self titled, album is crushing. Moonhorse is wonderful. Keeps the same feel, has a different vocal style but has a bit more energy. Interestingly Oceans of Slumber did a very good cover of this song. You could try Ahab - it's a bit slower and heavier though 😂
if you are going to do Doom Metal, you need to check out Solitude Aeturnus from Texas "haunting the obscure" is a good start and check out the band Memento Mori from Sweden featuring the best known candlemass singer (not the guy on solitude). the song Heathendom is good. Still slow but better singers and better guitar solos and arrangements especial Memento for guitar and Solitude for vocals.
This song/album was from '86, but it was imitating early-to-mid 70s Sabbath, so in that respect it probably sounds even older than it is. FWIW, this was the only album they did with this vocalist (Johan Längqvist), and, despite its status as a classic album, I'd say most people prefer Messiah Marcolin who did the next three albums. They've shuffled vocalists a lot since then. Really, the major appeal of Candlemass, for me, is just the awesomeness of the riffs. It's often the case with a lot of metal that I merely tolerate the vocals because of the music, though I must say none of Candlemass's singers really bother me. Like most metal genres, doom has been mixed with pretty much every other metal genre. Wikipedia has a good section on the genre's various sub-divisions (though I'm sure many metalheads would quibble over various placements): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_metal#Stylistic_divisions Really, for modern doom metal, I still don't think it gets much better than, well, Candlemass. They're still releasing albums, and they still rock hard. Prophet and Waterwitch from 2011 are awesome, and have a different vocalist as well.
Their new album is awesome doom metal. Just love it. Try listen to the newer Finnish doom band Swallow the Sun, that is very interesting. Especially "Stone Wings" on their latest album "When a shadow is forced into the light" - a beautiful metaphor for death.
You mentioned Oceans Of Slumber, they actually covered this song, ironically lol. They're pretty goddamn great. Now, I won't lie, I'm kinda biased cuz they're from my hometown & a friend from high school just recently joined the band (which blows my mind, tbh lol). Anyway, you should check out their new song A Return To The Earth Below. That shit is g r e a t. It's a nice catchy mix of like some 80s ballads, prog & doom. Maybe even some R&B thrown in there? But yeah, Cammie's vocal performance is stellar in it. It might one of the best songs they've ever put out. It's definitely my favorite.
The thumbnail of the video is wrong. It shows Candlemass with Messiah Marcolin while the vocalist is Johan Längqvist. Listen the tracks "Black Stone Wielder" and "The Well of Souls".
React to bell witch mirror reaper or any shorter works form them (mirror reapper lasts more than an hour) they use a more traditional singing, no operatic nor deep bass singing style, and incorporate gutural growls
For a true Doom Metal band like Candlemass, check Solstice and any song from their Lamentations album like Only the Strong or The Man Who Lost the Sun. Or maybe Graven Deep from the Halcyon EP (funny note: Solstice did a cover of this song Solitude from Candlemass on the Halcyon EP).
Also modern doom metal bands: Isole Draconian (I'd recommend Arcane rain fell) Saturnus (I like the song I long but it is reaaally drown out, far more than any doom you've done before) Swallow the sun - Another band with some really slow songs but some of them moving far more All these bands except Isole have growls btw. Finally if you want to do a really adventurous Doom song check out the Chilean band Uaral song Lamentos. They're an acoustic band but with exclusively growls as vocals, as odd as that sounds.
I guess they want it to not "sit right" with you. The chorus effect you get from the harmonies at the beginning to dragging notes. You get a little discomfort though you don't really know why at first.
To think Doom Metal never really caught on but Grunge did (fuck knows how, clearly manufactured by Record Execs cause it's terrible). As I said on another reaction, Black Sabbath popularised Doom Metal with their early material, though it has to be said The Eternal Idol is one of their darkest tracks. This is what your "Ozzy Osbourne" reminder is borne from. Again, the subgenre was birthed by The Beatles but I'm fucking blanking on the name of the track, need to look into it.
@@SuperSuperman73 iknow, right? imagine complaining that your classic *doom* metal was too slow and didn't go anywhere. this ain't progressive metal, pal. deal with it
That happens. There's quite a few song that I react to and don't enjoy on a casual level. But there's always something interesting to learn from all music so I do by best to absorb the lessons in those songs.
