Search - Candlemass :: From the 13th Sun

Candlemass is back again

Lars Hellberg | Flen, Sweden | 07/24/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Back, yet not back... This isn't the Candlemass we all learned to love during the late 80's. Leif Edling has composed this entire album as a salute to Black Sabbath, and, doing so, somewhat abandoned his old style. Since earlier album Dactylis Glomerata was really just an "Abstract Algebra 2", we can safely say that there has not really been any new CM releases since Chapter VI. This album begins just fine with killer-rockers Droid and Elephant Star, but what follows is too slow, too even-paced, too timid. The way I remember it, old Sabbath never sounded so placid. Fair enough, singer Björn Flodqvist does a great impersonation of Ozzy Osbourne, but it isn't enough to fill out an entire album. Also, the songs are full of noises and sound effects that might be cool, but which I think sound more like old Star Trek phasers. The reason for three stars is mostly the aforementioned songs Droid nd Elephant Star. The rest of the album is, sorry to say, not good enough, knowing what Edling can do. Perhaps he should stay on as a DJ and festival reporter for Swedish radio P3."

Depends on what you're looking for....

Justin Gaines | 04/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Candlemass this isn't, not the Candlemass I know, but it's still really good. It's just more like it's another band instead of Candlemass, it's that different. Very Black Sabbath-y, and definitely worth getting, just don't expect it to sound like the old Candlemass."

Candlemass Bloody Candlemass

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 06/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1999's From the 13th Sun is not the typical Candlemass album, but it is one of my favorite Candlemass albums. Obviously, signature vocalist Messiah Marcolin wasn't on board for this album. It was essentially Leif Edling, vocalist Bjorn Flodquist, and a rotating cast of musicians. Still, as long as Edling is running things, it's still Candlemass, and what Edling apparently had in mind for this album was pure unadulterated Black Sabbath Worship.



From the 13th Sun is a space-obsessed tribute to the original Black Sabbath lineup. Listening to this after completing a marathon Sabbath session from the Black Box makes From the 13th Sun feel like a collection of Sabbath b-sides or even a long lost Ozzy era album. The riffs are pure Iommi, and while Flodquist doesn't quite sound like Ozzy, he gets pretty close. If you don't love the early Black Sabbath albums, From the 13th Sun probably isn't going to do much for you. Then again, if you didn't love the early Sabbath albums you probably wouldn't be a Candlemass fan in the first place.



It's not the Candlemass most fans are used to, but From the 13th Sun is still an impressive doom metal album, and is a worthy addition to the Candlemass saga.

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