Ancient Dreams [Import]

Candlemass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Music for Nations
• ASIN: B000005RDR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,696 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mirror Mirror

2. A Cry from the Crypt

3. Darkness in Paradise

4. Incarnation of Evil

5. Bearer of Pain

6. Ancient Dreams

7. The Bells of Atheron

8. Epistle No. 81

9. Black Sabbath Medley

Editorial Reviews

Swedish exclusive, digitally remastered reissue of the doom metal act's 1988 album that's out-of-print in the US. Featuring a bonus disc with 4 previously unreleased live tracks 'Mirror Mirror', 'The Bells Of Acheron', 'Bearer Of Pain' & 'A Cry From The Crypt' plus a recent interview with Leif Edling & Messiah Marcolin and the video for 'Mirror Mirror'. Packaged in a slipcase with thick booklet loaded with photos & sleevenotes from bandleader Leif Edling. 2001. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Doom Metal classic in every respect, September 6, 2003

By 

Murat Batmaz (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Dreams (Audio CD)

Candlemass are without a doubt one of the most important doom metal bands in the world. Ever since their incredible debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus they've gone a long way paving the way for other bands. They're among the founders of modern doom metal and while I enjoy each and every Candlemass record I consider the first 4 absolutely essential.

Ancient Dreams is the second album with doom metal vocal god Messiah Marcolin and the third Candlemass album. It picks up where the classic Nightfall left off. Leif Edling's songwriting and bass playing is at its best and Marcolin's voice is simply incredible. The guitar solos are brilliant. It is hard to believe this was released back in 1988 when almost everyone was into glam, hard rock or thrash metal. I appreciate and respect Candlemass for their courage to stand up for themselves and make the music they believed in even though they knew it would never sell millions. That is why they have lasted all these years and are considered fathers of doom. They always remained true to their roots be it with Marcolin, Vikstrom or Flodkvist. My personal favourites off this record are "Cry from the Crypt", "Darkness In Paradise", the title song, and "Bells of Acheron". There's not a single filler on Ancient Dreams though.

You might also want to check out Memory Garden, Solitude Aeturnus, Abstrakt Algebra and some other bands.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Doom Metal, June 19, 2001

By 

Melkor "Librarian, Reviewer" (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Dreams (Audio CD)

On this third release by Candlemass the band had already effectively carved their own niche as a respected metal band. Not as impressive as their previous album "Nightfall", this is still a strong album. Vocalist Messiah Marcolin has vocal power rivaling opera singers with incredible range and vibrato. "Epistle No. 81" is a shining example of his versatile style. Bassist and chief song writer Leif Edlin wields his pen like a surgeon crafting songs of sorrow, fear, pain and mourning. "Darkness In Paradise" is a song of woeful despair and darkness delivered with gothic melodies. The guitar work is a combination of sludging Sabbath riffs and dark melodies delivered with less low end and more melody than the metal masters. Lead guitarist Lars Johansson is a blitering soloists employing a variety of techniques in his solos. "Mirror Mirror", "Bearer of Pain", and "A Cry From The Crypt" are energetic thrashers while songs like "Incarnation of Evil" are more plodding and slowed down. "Ancient Dreams" is an album higlighted by memorable choruses, dark melodies, and epic compositions all in the seven minute range. Fans of "Nightfall" will enjoy this album. New fans should start with "Nightfall". If you don't like that one you won't like this one. If you are looking for doom and depression look no further.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet Dreams, April 18, 2003

By 

José Carlos Milito (Maceió, AL, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Dreams (Audio CD)

Aaahhhhh... the bittersweet smell of death. This album introduced me to those guys, IMHO, the best swedish band ever, back in '91. I can clearly recall my first impressions when I first heard Mirror Mirror, Epistle No.81, and the really spooky Darkness in Paradise, IMO, the greatest highlight in this gothic masterpiece. They had a lot of trouble during the making of this album, which included the loss of their former producer, which didn't prevent them from producing a classic, however.