Candle Serenade
Nosferatu's Passion


4.5
superb

Review

by combustion07 USER (74 Reviews)
June 17th, 2010 | 10 replies


Release Date: 1995 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Nosferatu wants your blood!!

Candle Serenade formed out of Portugal in 1993. They released one demo and this full length in their time together. Candle Serenade definitely has a distinct sound. They blend black and doom metal in a way that isn't heard too often. With the majority of the tracks featured spanning over six minutes the band manages to grab your attention from the beginning and never loosens its grip.

The band features a female vocalist. Her style is the perfect example of the beauty and the beast technique. She proves that she can belt out sickening screams along with some elegant operatic vocals. This style meshes wonderfully with the approach the band takes. The operatic vocals add so much to the album in terms of diversity and are executed flawlessly.

The production on Nosferatu's Passion allows every instrument to be clearly heard throughout. The bass thickens up the sound where it is necessary and serves its purpose. Aside from the vocals, the two elements that make this album what it is are the keys and the guitar. The keys set the atmosphere for the majority of the album and create such a wide variety of sounds that gives the record the diversity it needs. The guitarists and the keyboard player might as well be twins considering how spot on their thoughts are with one another. The two instruments work so well with each other that at times they seem to fuse together and work as one.

The music gets the listener so involved that it almost feels as though it is taking you on a journey. Odd interludes like the one on "Celtic Lir's Son (Sab Erin's Legend)" only add to this already overwhelming feeling. Somehow even with the obscure interludes like the one previously mentioned, the band manages to make it fit like another piece of the puzzle that is Nosferatu's Passion. It is moments like this that make the keys so important to the overall sound. Not only do they create melody but they also create a backbone for Candle Serenade's sound and without them the album simply wouldn't have the charm it does.

The drums are steady like the drops of blood falling from Nosferatu's latest victim's neck. Vrolok pounds away at his kit when needed but also shows a very subtle performance when it is called for. Just like the rest of the members he seems to have a good grasp on what he is doing rather than just blasting away like many musicians do. Even with the beautiful operatic vocals that vacate this album the atmosphere that is made is still very gloomy for the most part and also at times menacing. All the lyrics featured on the album are vampire related, as if the album and song titles weren't a big enough indicator. Taking into account the lyrical content the atmosphere brought forth seems more than fitting.

Overall Nosferatu's Passion brings a diverse and entertaining sound to the table. This album is extremely memorable and has a replay value that never dulls. With every listen there is something new to be found and admired. With only five actual songs and a playtime over 40 minutes it is surprising that the album doesn't have a dull moment but somehow when it all ends you are left wanting more. I'd highly recommend Nosferatu's Passion to fans of metal in general but if you're a fan of either black or doom metal this release is nothing short of essential.



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user ratings (5)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
combustion07
June 17th 2010


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3194/albums270yd1.jpg

There's a link to the cover, either my computer's fucked up or sputnik is because it won't let me upload it.



combustion07
June 17th 2010


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Thanks to whoever uploaded the pic

rockon2109
June 17th 2010


39 Comments


sounds awesome, might have to check this out.

Hawks
June 17th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah this sounds pretty fucking cool. Downloading it now.

combustion07
June 17th 2010


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Nice dig Hawks.

Hawks
June 17th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Thanks man. That album rules. I also can't wait to give this one a listen. Gonna listen to it when I'm done with Dooom.

Hawks
June 17th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This was decent on the first listen, but nothing too impressive. The vocalist isn't really that great and some of the riffs were boring as hell.

combustion07
June 17th 2010


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Hmm it was a grower for me but if you thought the riffs were boring it might not for you. I loved the vocals but I'm also a sucker for female vocalists in metal, she is one of my favorites though.

Hawks
June 17th 2010


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I mean the vocals weren't bad by any means, but she didn't really blow me away. And yeah at points the riffs almost put me to sleep. The album wasn't bad enough to get a 2.5 or lower though.

foxblood
November 12th 2013


11237 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this is sick but the guitar work is kinda messy..



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