Today is Halloween in the town of Amherst. The mayor rescheduled it after the snow storm last weekend.
I am something of a Halloween scrooge, but one thing I have always done to celebrate the day is to make horror-themed mixes (mix CDs when I have a working burner). Of course, while music of all types might make its way in, they are mostly metal affairs. This Candlemass tune was on, I think the first Halloween mix I did, 10 years ago. It’s a tradition just for me, more or less, but a tradition nonetheless.
For those not in the know, Candlemass are the main dudes behind Epic Doom Metal, a small subset of excellent bands. It’s kind of like slowed down, more melody-driven thrash metal a la Mercyful Fate, but with slightly operatic vocals. Very specific, yes, in the tradition of all things metal. Candlemass are fantastic, especially their middle-era albums with the ridiculous vocalist Messiah Marcolin. Epic Doom makes for perfect Halloween music, being as creepy in mood as it often is.
