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Review: Candlemass - The Curse of Candlemass
Candlemass
www.candlemass.se
The Curse of Candlemass

Label: Escapi
Year released: 2005
Duration: 200 min.

Rating: 4.25/5

Review online: December 5, 2005
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers Rating
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The Curse of Candlemass

Rated 4.73/5 (94.55%) (11 Votes)
Review

"The Curse of Candlemass" is a double DVD. The first one is a 90 minute live show recorded in Stockholm in 2003 when they played with Force of Evil and Trouble. Here the band plays songs that they had rarely or never played before (I'll assume the back cover of the DVD is right on that one. :)) Having watched the show on the "Documents of Doom" DVD recorded 13 years earlier, I can safely say that the guys still put as much energy into their live show as they did back in the days and the crowd shows its appreciation. Funny thing, in the interview they mention some problems with the lighting when they played that show, which confirms my suspicion that there was something wrong there while I was watching the show (the actual story behind this is kind of funny, and I'd rather not give more details as it's better to hear it from the band members themselves.) The performance and the wide variety of camera angles make up for most of that, however. If like me you like a zoom on the guitar during solos, you're in for a treat. Great show.

The second DVD contains a 55 minute interview and that alone in my opinion is worth getting the DVD for. Three band members recounting the story of the band from the pre-Candlemass days up to the reunion. The interview was done during the filming of the video for the song "Black Dwarf" and there are some shots from the filming session here and there between questions. I found it interesting that Messiah was interviewed apart from the other two members, but it probably made for a more manageable discussion that way, as too many members often cut each other off while answering questions anyway. :) The interview is in Swedish, but English and German subtitles are available. Watching this I wished I understood Swedish, as there often was a lot more talk than there were subtitles and I felt like I was missing some details.

The rest of the second DVD consist of an appearance on Swedish TV in 1993 where they perform "Dying Illusion", and live bootlegs from shows in 1987, 1989 and 1992. The video and sound quality understandably takes a dive there, but it is cool to see anyway. Then the inevitable photo gallery, something I almost always find disposable on a DVD, but I guess some people like that. :)

All in all, a good DVD set that's worth getting for anyone with at least a remote interest in Candlemass. The detailed interview alone makes it worth the purchase, and the 90 minute show is quite something as well, as these guys sure know what to do on a stage.


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