by Ed Rivadavia
Candlemass' third album, Ancient Dreams is not quite as immediate as its predecessor, but with repeated listens, its songs (mostly running in the seven-minute range) become just as compelling. Outstanding tracks like &Mirror Mirror,& &Darkness in Paradise,& &The Bells of Acheron,& and &Bearer of Pain& combine sluggish, staccato riffs with surprisingly memorable choruses delivered by vocalist Messiah Marcolin with his trademark vibrato overload. The title track and &Incarnation of Evil& do seem to plod on a bit too long, but the more energetic &A Cry from the Crypt& picks up the pace with some typical late-'80s thrashing. The closing &Black Sabbath Medley& is interesting, but hardly surprising, making this an album for serious fans only.