I love Messiah-era Candlemass (including the 2005 s/t), and I love Solitude Aeturnus (especially their first three albums). But for some reason I can't quite warm up to Candlemass with Lowe. It's good, but I can't quite love it.
I do feel bad for Lowe right now though -- a singer canned for the 'quality of the live performances', ouch. I read some accounts of people saying he occasionally read lyrics of a sheet on stage, which seems completely nuts to me.
This might mean a more prolific Solitude Aeturnus though, which is great news.