As many of you have already heard, Candlemass have found a new vocalist in Robert Lowe of Solitude Aeturnus. I got to thinking that there are probably a lot of readers who aren’t exactly familiar with this band because of their lack of reviews on this site. Of course, the fact that they haven’t released a studio album in 8 years might also have something to do with it. Well, if you’re one of these people, or you’ve just lost track of the band in the midst of their prolonged absence, allow me to introduce (or reintroduce) you to one of the greatest doom bands of all time.

This Texas based band started out in 1987 simply as “Solitude”. They would later change their name to the current title after a legal spat with another band of the same name and, after the resignation of their original vocalist, employ the services of Robert Lowe, who I will discuss more shortly. They have put forth some of the best traditional doom albums you will ever hear, but, as with many bands of their genre, have stayed relatively under the radar. They released five albums between 1991 and 1998. However, things in the world of Solitude Aeturnus had fallen quiet in recent years, as the recording of the next album Alone seemed to be moving at a snail’s pace. This was due to many factors, such as the departure of both guitarist Edgar Rivera and drummer John Covington, Robert Lowe’s hospitalization, and issues with their record label. After 8 long years, the band has finally released Alone, their sixth studio album. Was it worth the wait? Well, I’m not entirely sure that any album is worth waiting 8 years for, but that doesn’t stop Alone from being a nearly flawless clinic of how traditional doom should sound.

First things first, Robert Lowe is nothing short of amazing. The timbre in this man’s voice is absolutely perfect, and he wastes little time reminding listeners of this fact. There were multiple moments during the opening track, Scent of Death, where I sat in jaw-dropped awe at the sheer power of his voice. If his sustained wail just prior to the six-minute mark doesn’t do the same for you, you’re either dead or in a coma. There is a measured desperation in his voice that begs to be heard. In fact, after his performance on Alone, I would say he is the finest doom vocalist there is. I originally scoffed at the idea of him singing for Candlemass because I wanted a relative unknown who could devote more time to the band. I was wrong, big time. I mean, seriously, is there anybody out there who can match this guy? I seriously doubt it.

Of course, as great as the vocals are, equally effective riffing is needed to round out the package, as this is, after all, a doom album. Luckily, Solitude Aeturnus are lead in this regard by John Perez, a man with a penchant for huge and caustic riffs that are the perfect underbelly to Lowe’s vocals. The leading riff of Is There practically forces you to bang your head. Examples of Perez’s superb songwriting ability are many on Alone, and the excellent riffs are too numerous to mention individually, but trust me when I tell you that you won’t find a much more consistent collection of doom riffs anywhere.

Alone comes in both standard and digipack versions. The digipack version includes the bonus track Lucid Destitution. There have been numerous times in the past where I ponied up the extra cash to get a bonus track which turned out to be nothing more than sub par b-side material. Let me tell you, this one is definitely worth it. One of the slower tracks on the album; it sees Lowe take more of an angry approach, which I really enjoyed. That’s not the only pleasant surprise as Perez and Moseley team up for what is by far the most accomplished soloing found on Alone. This is one of the few bonus tracks that could have, and should have (in my mind), replaced one off the original song listing.

With this album, Solitude Aeturnus have cemented their status as a top tier traditional doom band. If your band spans 8 years between albums, the subsequent album needs to be more than just good, and Alone is remarkable. As such, my love for this album seems to be growing with each listen. Hopefully, Lowe’s addition to Candlemass will not only keep their momentum going, but also provide Solitude Aeturnus with the recognition they deserve. My only gripe is the production. Maybe I’m just picky, but the production on Alone just sounds a bit light. Doom, particularly this style, needs a grandiose and thick sound to maximize the power of the riffs. The production on this album is good, but it could have been better. Beyond that, the flaws are nearly non-existent.