Credits:CandlemassDescription:Duringthemid-80's,theEuropeanheavymetalscenewasdominatedbycountlessthrash,death,andblackmetalbandsplayingatbreakneckspeedsandscreaminginahigh-pitchedfrenzy.SowhenCandlemassreleasedtheirdebut,EpicusDoomicusMetallicusin1986,itssongs(featuringslow,lumberingriffsstraightoutoftheBlackSabbathhandbookandvocalsdeliveredinabaritone,operaticstyle)offeredupastylisticcurveballofshockingproportions.Afterdisposingofitsdeceptivelyoptimisticintroductoryacousticguitar,opener"Solitude"developsintoacompletemonster,repletewithlyricsofsuicidaldepressionandchurningwiththemostcolossal,down-tunedguitarriffsinceSabbath's"IronMan."Andthat'sjustthebeginning,assucceedingtracks"Demon'sGate,""CrystalBall,"and"UndertheOak"(laterre-recordedinitsdefinitiveversionfortheband'sfourthalbumTalesofCreation)trudgebywithdeliberate,immutabledoom.Althoughthegroup'svisionwasstartlinglywell-conceivedanduniqueforitstime,bassist,songwriterand