I'd somehow managed to miss out on Candlemass for the longest time, too. I think I had them confused with Cathedral, and maybe also Carcass, Cadaver, Cephalic Carnage, Cradle of Filth, Cannibal Corpse, Cryptic Slaughter and Coroner (but not Celtic Frost, Covenant, Children of Bodom, Corrosion of Conformity, Crimson Glory or Cynic, at least). I tuned in when they reissued Nightfall, Ancient Dreams and Tales of Creation a few years ago, all of which are fabulous (and the reissues have some good bonus tracks, including surprisingly interesting interviews with the band about the making of each record).

For the past 24 hours, the new White Stripes song ("Blue Orchid") was lodged in my head. I've probably watched the video and/or listened to that track a dozen times.  

Then you have to go and put Candlemass up, and I had to go and click on it.  

Within the first thirty seconds, the earworm created by the White Stripes was bludgeoned to death... probably by a gigantic, lumbering balrog that was wandering around.  

That is a totally pounding track, one that reminds me of one of my favorite Slayer moments ("Seasons in the Abyss").  

It also may have been the first time I actually _heard_ Candlemass. When I was young and impressionable, they were one of the "truly Satanic" bands out there (according to one of my friends at the time, who liked them). I think I was going through a mild religious fervor at the time and shunned anything of the sort, fearing that a portal to Hell would open up in my headphones and kill me, or something, should I dare to listen to "such music".  

Another great choice, again.