Krux

Just why bassist Leif Edling felt the need to form yet another doom metal band besides his main concern, legendary doomsters Candlemass, is anyone's guess. But classic doom is what Sweden's Krux are all about, and except for the different personnel involved, their eponymous debut could almost pose as a Candlemass record, if truth be told. Dominated as it is by the same manner of oversized riffs, detuned guitars, and unhurried rhythms, beautifully melancholic songs like "Krux" and "Omfalos" owe much of their distinctive tones to the commanding voice of one-time Yngwie Malmsteen band singer Mats Levén. Outstanding opener "Black Room," for example, might have struck too close to home in that regard, only thanks to Levén's contribution, it sounds less like Candlemass than the apex of Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath. Prime instigator and songwriter Edling is in fine form as always, coming forward to sing on the sparse interlude "Sibiria" before unleashing waves of distorted bass effects on the spacy "Evel Rifaz." Freed from his bass-playing gig with Entombed, Jörgen Sandström takes full advantage of his opportunity to peel off one bludgeoning power chord after another; and guest soloists Nicko Elgstrand (Terra Firma) and Fredrik Akesson (Talisman) also take turns playing guitar hero, proffering stinging leads to such head-banging anthems as "Nimis" and "Enigma EZB," respectively. Meanwhile, Carl Westholm also pitches in with judicious doses of synthesizers, occasionally brought to the fore, but mostly used for accenting purposes. Krux finally veer slightly from their trad-doom formula on the multipart, 12-minute "Lunochod" — whereupon trippy bleeps and squawks see them embarking on sonic traipses through the cosmos. This slight departure notwithstanding, Krux is a doom metal record through and through, and especially ideal for Candlemass fans.