Apart from Candlemass (who I absolutely love) I have pretty much no knowledge of doom metal, if anyone can recommend me some doomy bands along the lines of Candlemass that would really be fantastic. I love the big epic soundscapes, so the more of that the better.

Depends on what kind of doom; there are many variations, such as death doom, drone doom, funeral doom and, of course, traditional doom like Candlemass.

Early Sabbath can be considered trad. doom, but you knew that already surely? For other trad. doom, I recommend Solitude Aeturnus and Doomsword, both epic doom metal bands

Swallow The Sun are melodeath/doom, and have some really epic, haunting tracks

Check out Trouble immediately Spencer, get their first album 'Psalm 9'. Candlemass are the greatest doom band though in my opinion, so good start!

Ive been getting into it a bit recently. Sleep are one of my favourites so far. Go for Sleep's Holy Mountain.

You are asking the right person, when it comes to Doom Metal. It's been my favourite genre of Metal since the late 70s, and my mailorder has selling this stuff since 1993.

You want Epic Doom, like Candlemass? To start with, the new FORSAKEN album is a mind-blower. Up there with the new Candlemass album as Epic Doom release of the year.

Check out the song "Aidenn Falls" from the new album @ http://www.myspace.com/forsakenmalta There are even better songs on the album!

DOOMSHINE, from Germany, is due to release it's 2nd album and high time. This band should satisfy any CANDLEMASS fanatic - http://www.myspace.com/melodicdoomedmetal

LAST CHAPTER has just re-released their 1997 album, "The Living Waters", via Brainticket Records. That album includes the vocals of Rob Lowe. It's not surprising it has been released by the label of John Perez - SOLITUDE AETURNUS (get all their albums as well, of course)

SCALD, from Russia, is one of the best and unknown band of the genre, though their album has appeared in various forms, on various labels, in the past 10 years - http://www.myspace.com/scaldtribute This is truly majestic stuff.

Early MEMORY GARDEN is pure CANDLEMASS in sound, so look for them too.

Oh, and SORCERER, the 80s Swedish band is one of the best in the genre. Their material was also released on CD via Brainticket Records back in the mid 90s. An LP version, with bonus tracks was released more recently.

CONCEPT OF GOD - John Perez's other project, apart SOLITUDE AETURNUS, released a really good album a year back, in a similar epic doom vein.

THUNDERSTORM from Italy - one of the longest running and best from over there - http://www.myspace.com/thunderstormlair

TRINAKRIUS from Italy - http://www.myspace.com/trinakrius Their older material was more epic in style.

DOOMENICUS - also from Italy - http://www.myspace.com/doomenicus

I hope the above proves some interesting discoveries for you. They are all great bands.

I, of course, have loads of other kinds of Doom material but it would take page after page to go on about them all. For now, check out the new IRON MAN release, bloody fantastic! http://www.myspace.com/ironmanband

If you want a list of Doom stock I am selling, drop me a line.

P.S. I almost forgot WHILE HEAVEN WEPT and my best buddies, SOLSTICE.

I can only second some of Russ's recommendations; the new Forsaken album is absolutely DEVASTATING! Totally crushing epic doom. Scald are also unmissable, and I'd recommend God's Tower in the same vein.

I can highly recommend the Procession MLP that was released recently too; certainly fits in the Candlemass/Solitude Aeternus bracket.

Oh yeah, PROCESSION is a fabulous band, from the Doom Metal capital of the world - Chile.

GODS TOWER (BELARUS) was quite an individual sounding DOOM band. The early material is more in the slow - 1st CATHEDRAL album - vein though, I thought. By "The Turns" it had become a unique entity. I offered them a deal in 1996/7, but they took too long deciding and I went with other releases instead.

Also, from that zone - CANONIS from Southern Russia recorded some great early material with a female vocalist. Then they muted into a Goth Metal band, bleurgh!

Don't listen to much doom but I do enjoy Cathedral and Trouble.

Confessor & Trouble for me.

Has Kory Clarke recorded anything with the Touble guys yet? Will be strange to hear 'em without Eric.

Electric fucking Wizard!

Some very good recommendation there Mr Tears!

I'm personally loving blood ceremony atm, think early sabbath but with flutes and a female vocalist. Reverend Bizarre are also essential, Saint Vitus, Pentagram..

There's loads really.

I forgot about Griftegard somehow; the most crushing and bleak yet uplifting doom since the second Warning album!

Aye, Griftegard has an album in the pipeline for the summer.

Blood Ceremony = Jex Thoth = The Devil's Blood really - they are all carved from the same template, i.e. a mix of early 70s Pentagram & acid folk/prog music from the same era.

The Devil's Blood are ace....you can dance to it. Blood Ceremony are very atmospheric..again they are awesome. I have the latest Jex Thoth release but enjoy it as much as The Devils Blood or Blood Ceremony.

Orgre are Groovy…Pale Divine also ROCK hard for a Doom band.

All hail the ELECTRIC WIZARD..THREE WIZARDS CROWNED IN WEED...or THREE WIZARDS & ONE WITCH CROWNED IN WEED.

Shugmaster wrote:Has Kory Clarke recorded anything with the Touble guys yet? Will be strange to hear 'em without Eric.

No, not yet. They've played here in Chicago a few times (as they're local) but I haven't been able to get out to see them with him yet. There's a few Youtube videos if you hunt around ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXg9GQEU5t0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUawDM8EcYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mKhPHixsk