Review: Candle “Demo 2016”

Candle “Demo 2016”
Fighter Records

As the title suggests, this is a 2016 demo by Swedish retro Metalheads, Candle. It’s been picked for a 2017 re-issue by Fighter Records, the new Heavy Metal division of the Death and Grind label, Xtreem Music (which was set up by Avulsed singer Dave Rottten)

And Mr Rotten has impeccable taste as this is the perfect way to launch his new sub-label.

For those of you of a certain age, myself included, this will take you right back to the early 80s and possibly a bit of the late 70s. Candle have captured the essence of the NWOBHM (I’m thinking Tokyo Blade with a bit of Priest before they discovered their twin-guitar sound, and possibly even a few elements of early Maiden) and the Scandinavian flavours of early Mercyful Fate, as well as a bit of the grandeur of Candlemass.

Erik Nordkvist has a high pitched voice, so while he doesn’t have the manic range of King Diamond, he does share similarities with both Halford and Dickinson, although a few notches down the ladder of success. And I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. His rampaging tones are a perfect foil for the Doom meets Heavy Metal meets Mercyful Fate sounds produced by the rest of the band.

Don’t Break The Oath is one of my favourite albums of all time and this has a similar feel, minus the vocals… and they belong more to the UK side of Metal. So that’s essentially what you are getting here. And it’s a sumptuous feast of the highest order.

As a Metalhead who has just crossed over into his 50s (about 6 weeks ago) this does take me back to my teenage years. My yearn for discovering new music is even stronger now than it was over 35 years ago and it’s bands like this that keep the fire burning bright.

So I’ll continue to enjoy this 4 track introduction to the band and I cannot wait for their debut full length which is due in the warmer months of 2017.

https://www.facebook.com/candlebandofficial/
http://fighterrecords.bandcamp.com