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Ahhhh, another classic from the Candlemass camp. This was album number four, and the last one with the almighty Messiah on vocals. To be honest, at the time of it's release I was not overly fond of this one, but time has sharpened my perceptions of this masterpiece and I can see it clear now. This is a more than worthy follow-up to "Ancient Dreams", and a fitting culmination to the first and best era of this great band.

Do I need to describe the sound of Candlmass? This is the greatest doom band of them all still at the top of their inimitable form. "Tales Of Creation" booms with epic, crunching riffs you will never be able to forget highlighted by searing leadwork and the best production job the band ever got. The slow and majestic riff of opener "The Prophecy" leads right into the galloping thunder of "Dark Reflections" and except for a short pause here and there for a narrative interlude this album never lets up. This is overall a bit faster than Candlemass' other material, but still doomy and heavy as all Hell. These are some of the best songs Leif Edling ever penned and there are no weak tracks or filler. Especially nice is a reworking of "Under The Oak" from their debut. That, combined with the fact that this is a continuation of the storyline from "Darkness In Paradise" off "Ancient Dreams", gives this album a very nice feeling of closure and culmination. Some of the narration is a bit iffy, and I do wish they had obtained the services of a better voice actor, but it isn't bad by any stretch.

I have the old MFN pressing, not the new one with all the bonus tracks and stuff. The package is adequate, with the cool cover engraving and all the lyrics included. The booklet layout is minimal, without any kind of design beyond the gothic fonts.

For the Candlmass fan, or for any doom fan, this is a must-have. The first four albums by this band are all classics, each one indispensable, and no metal collection is complete without them.