Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Candlemass

20. Candlemass – Sophie Lancaster stage -  Friday, August 11th – after Killswitch Engage finish.

Candlemass are the godfathers of Doom Metal. Yes you can trace its linage all the way back to that riff at the start of Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath but it was Candlemass (alongside Pentagram, St Vitus and Trouble) that actually forged it into a ground shaking movement. You may not actually know that many Candlemass tunes but I can assure you that the songs that you do treasure owe an inornate debt to Candlemass. They are the cult band that cult bands love and their seminal debut “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” is the foundation stone that every subsequent doom metal album has been built on.

They are true pioneers and whilst there have been a number of stops and starts over their 40 year existence, they have never compromised and never wavered in their desire to be heavier than all the rest. With the return of Johan Längqvist what we will witness on Friday night is as classic a Candlemass line-up as you are going to get. Five Battle hardened Viking warriors that have sculptured the contours of our world. Don't go back to your tent. Don't you dare go back to your tent after Killswitch Engage, you’ve got history to witness.