Candlemass Receive Grammy Nomination for “Astorolus – The Great Octopus”
Uh… whatever it takes, I guess?
Some thoughts on this: Heavy music has a long and kinda-shitty relationship with the Grammy Awards and with mainstream notoriety. Even when glam was at its commercial peak in the 1980s, it was treated as a joke by “true” metalheads, and these notions of purity — always politically problematic, even today — are by no means gone. Being part of a subculture inherently involves thinking you know something others don’t, when really what you know is something appeals to you, even if you don’t choose to examine why.
So, it’s especially hilarious when someone like High on Fire gets nominated — and wins! — a Grammy, as happened last year, and the attitude of the underground that’s celebrated the band for the better part of the last 20 years stuck up its nose and said, “Well, they finally got one right.” This year, that nod to the fact that heavy music outside even metal’s own mainstream exists would seem to be Candlemass, whose excellent 2019 offering, The Door to Doom (review here), not only brought a long-due reunion with original vocalist Johan Langquist, but brought in one Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath for a guest solo guitar on “Astorolus – The Great Octopus.” Indeed, that’s the song that got the nod.
Fine. I kind of felt at the time that Iommi‘s mere presence on the record overshadowed the true narrative of the album, which was the return of Langquist, but if it gets more people to listen to Candlemass and maybe dig back into some of the landmark doom they’ve made since 1986, then all the better. If you know anything about the band, you know founder/songwriter Leif Edling (bass) was way into making that appearance happen, so yeah, it’s a win on that front anyway, and if the Grammy nomination turns more heads in their direction, then yeah, super. Maybe they can ask for more money to play a show (I think I said the same thing about High on Fire). Maybe they’ll tour the US again. I’d take that.
I guess they’re a long-shot to win — there would seem to be a big four-letter word hanging over the rest of the nominees — but whatever. I didn’t care about the Grammys yesterday and I don’t care today, but frankly, Candlemass already won by being nominated, so good for them. Go get ’em, and so on.
From the PR wire:
CANDLEMASS Nominated for “Best Metal Performance” Grammy Award!
Candlemass are truly the manifestation of pure doom metal! Early 2019 saw the release of their latest album, The Door To Doom, via Napalm Records – an offering that features an unforgettable pairing with legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on the track “Astorolus – The Great Octopus.” The song has now been nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award in the “Best Metal Performance” category. This is the first nomination for the band and the first nomination for Napalm Records!
The Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on January 26th and broadcast on CBS.
Leif Edling of Candlemass says: “We are very proud and honored to be nominated for a Grammy! Actually, a couple years ago, we said that the previous album would be the last one, yet here we are with a new record out plus Grammy talk. Wow! Proves that you should never give up. I must also take my hat off to Tony Iommi, who was kind enough to perform an amazing guitar solo on “Astorolus – The Great Octopus”. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’re happy, thrilled, excited… and a bit shocked!”
Sebastian Münch, A&R Napalm Records, comments: “We are thrilled that Candlemass has been nominated for a Grammy Award for their track “Astorolus – The Great Octopus”, featuring the iconic Tony Iommi. This is the first nomination for them and for Napalm Records, so we couldn’t be more excited. Congratulations, Candlemass!”
The Door To Doom unsurprisingly follows the plot line mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing. With Johan Langquist`s highly dramatic vocal style and the love for details, the band made this an epic album. The Door To Doom was produced by Marcus Jidell.
Order The Door To Doom HERE: http://smarturl.it/TheDoorToDoom-NPR
Candlemass are:
Leif Edling: Bass
Mats “Mappe” Björkman: Guitars
Jan Lindh: Drums
Lars “Lasse” Johansson: Guitars
Johan Langquist: Vocals
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CANDLEMASS
https://www.instagram.com/CANDLEMASS_SWEDEN/
http://www.candlemass.se/
WWW.NAPALMRECORDS.COM
Sometimes you can look at a Grammy award and know who they’re just going to hand an award just out of pure obligation or name value (Ex. just about any time a Marley is nominated for a Reggae Grammy) and it seems that way for that four-letter band in regards to the Metal and Rock nominations they both got for a record that did have some really good bass and drums. If not them then likely Death Angel or Killswitch Engage will take the nod.
But would it be awesome is Candlemass did win.
Nobody should care for that kind of recognitions , our kind of music fan are proud of the fact that not everyone have the same good taste we have therefore the fact of giving a sh.. for being noticed by a fancy juror to receive such “honor” ( in an alternate hall ) shouldnt be something to hold our breath .
what well we see next ceremony? Metallica with Taylor Swift ?
they would be honored , not her , THEY !