Candlemass | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Candlemass performing in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Nemesis (1982–1984) |
| Origin | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Epic doom metal[1] |
| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | candlemass |
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Candlemass is a Swedishepic doom metal band formed inUpplands Väsby, a suburb ofStockholm, in 1984 by bassist, songwriter, and bandleaderLeif Edling, alongside drummer Matz Ekström. The band has had a defining influence ondoom metal, with the epic doom genre itself taking its name from their debut albumEpicus Doomicus Metallicus.[2] Along withPentagram,Saint Vitus, andTrouble, Candlemass has been recognised as one of the "big four of doom metal".[3]
After releasing five full-length albums and extensively touring throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1993 but reunited three years later. Following another breakup in 2002, the band reformed in 2004 and has continued to record and perform ever since.
After the breakup of his first band, Nemesis, bassistLeif Edling formed Candlemass, recruiting session vocalist Johan Längqvist, drummer Matz Ekström, guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman, and Klas Bergwall.[4] Their debut release,Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986),[4] quickly established their reputation, securing their place within metal circles and marking a milestone in thedoom metal scene.[5] After the release of their debut album, Längqvist was replaced byMessiah Marcolin.[4] By the time the band entered the studio to record their second album,Nightfall, in 1987, Bergwall and Ekström had left the group. Jan Lindh joined as the new drummer, and Lars Johansson was added on guitars following the completion of the album.[4]
Candlemass followed up withAncient Dreams (1988) andTales of Creation (1989).[4] In 1990, they released the live albumLive.[4] Shortly afterward, internal disputes led to Messiah Marcolin's departure from the band in 1991.[4]
After Marcolin's departure, Candlemass recruited vocalistThomas Vikström and recordedChapter VI (1992).[4] The band toured to support the album, but by 1993, Candlemass had disbanded, partly due to the commercial failure ofChapter VI,[citation needed] and partly because Edling had formed a new project,Abstrakt Algebra.[4] After Abstrakt Algebra failed to gain traction, Edling recruited a new lineup (with Björn Flodqvist on vocals) under the Candlemass name in 1997 and released their sixth albumDactylis Glomerata in the following year,[4] which was a blend of material intended for a new Abstrakt Algebra album and new Candlemass songs.[citation needed] The next album,From the 13th Sun, was released in 1999.
In 2002, a previous Candlemass lineup reunited and performed several well-received live shows,[citation needed] releasing another live album. Additionally, remastered versions ofEpicus Doomicus Metallicus,Nightfall,Ancient Dreams, andTales of Creation were issued, alongside a DVD titledDocuments of Doom. The band began working on new material and recorded some songs while seeking a record label. However, internal differences resurfaced, leading to Candlemass disbanding again. In the interim, Leif Edling launched a new project,Krux, featuring former Abstrakt Algebra vocalistMats Levén and two members ofEntombed.
In November 2004, the band announced their second reunion. They recorded a new album, simply titledCandlemass, with the same lineup, and it was released in May 2005. The album earned them a Swedish Grammy that year.
In 2006, the band revealed plans for a new album, slated for release in 2007. However, in October 2006, after ongoing uncertainty surrounding Messiah Marcolin's involvement, it was confirmed that he had left the band for good.
Candlemass found a new vocalist,Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus),[6][7] who recorded with the band on their ninth album,King of the Grey Islands, released on 22 June 2007. The album was self-produced, except for four songs produced byAndy Sneap.[8]
In March 2008, Mats "Mappe" Björkman was sentenced to two years in prison for grand theft, having been convicted of stealing over 35,000 CDs and DVDs worth approximately 3 million SEK (around $500,000).[9][10]
Candlemass worked on their tenth studio album in 2008, initially titledHammer of Doom. However, they later renamed itDeath Magic Doom to avoid conflict with a German festival of the same name.[11] The album was originally scheduled for release on 27 March 2009 but was delayed until 3 April 2009.[12] The band signed with the Austrian labelNapalm Records in 2011, who released their eleventh studio album,Psalms for the Dead, in June 2012.[13][14] Despite this, bassistLeif Edling stated that the band would not split up, but wanted to stop before they "get too old and start putting out half-lame albums."[15]
On 2 June 2012, Candlemass announced via their website thatRobert Lowe had left the band as vocalist, primarily due to concerns over the quality of live performances. The band described this as "a very difficult decision." Lowe was replaced for the band's upcoming shows by longtime friend and collaboratorMats Levén, known for his work withYngwie Malmsteen,Therion,Treat, andAt Vance among others. Levén had previously worked withLeif Edling inAbstrakt Algebra andKrux and had contributed vocals on demos for theCandlemass andKing of the Grey Islands sessions, which are included in the box setDoomology. Additionally, keyboardistPer Wiberg (formerly ofOpeth andSpiritual Beggars) joined the band on stage for these live performances.[16]
In January 2013, Candlemass was voted the greatest Swedish hard rock/metal band of all time by the writers ofSweden Rock Magazine. They were featured in a list of the 100 greatest Swedish hard rock/metal bands of all time in a jubilee edition celebrating the magazine's 100th issue. It was also revealed that Candlemass, along with death metal bandEntombed (ranked No. 2 on the list), would perform together at a special jubilee concert in Stockholm, arranged by the magazine.[17][18]
Despite earlier claims thatPsalms for the Dead would be their final album, bassistLeif Edling later indicated that he was open to recording new music with Candlemass.[19] To coincide with the 30th anniversary ofEpicus Doomicus Metallicus, Candlemass released the EPDeath Thy Lover on 3 June 2016.[20] Additionally, on 29 April 2016, the band released a career-spanning coffee-table book.[21] The book also included two CDs featuring top picks by Leif Edling and Messiah Marcolin, a CD with rare tracks from their early career (including theWitchcraft demo), and two DVDs with three live performances.[22]
On 3 September 2018, Candlemass announced the return of Längqvist to the band after a 32-year hiatus. The band stated, "We wanted to find our way back to the roots of Candlemass, back to the soul and essence of the band. Johan Längqvist is back, and we hope this will give us some new energy and kickstart the heart of doom again. We don't know if it will last 10 more years or even 5, but if it will give us just another year of having fun and playing the music that we love so much, it will be a blast! The circle is closed; Johan is back!" The band also announced that they were recording a new album for a 2019 release, making it not only the first Candlemass studio album since 2012'sPsalms for the Dead, but their first with Längqvist since 1986'sEpicus Doomicus Metallicus.[23][24]
On 6 December 2018, Candlemass announced that their twelfth album would be titledThe Door to Doom and would be released on 22 February 2019. It was also revealed that the album would feature a guest appearance byBlack Sabbath'sTony Iommi, who contributes a guitar solo to one of the album's tracks, "Astorolus – The Great Octopus".[25] The band released an EP,The Pendulum, on 27 March 2020.[26] Shortly after its release,Leif Edling said that Candlemass was unlikely to release their next studio album until 2022 or 2023.[27]
On 18 August 2022, the band announced their thirteenth studio album,Sweet Evil Sun, and the album's first single, "Scandinavian Gods", was released on the same day. The album was released on 18 November.[28]
Candlemass released an EP,Black Star, on 9 May 2025,[29] and its only single "Black Star" one month prior. The band reunited with former singerMessiah Marcolin for the first time in nineteen years at theRock Hard Festival inAthens, Greece on 13 September 2025;[30][31] Edling stated that it would be a one-off show: "No recordings, no tours, nothing more, just one show."[32]
In January 2026, Edling announced that Candlemass will begin writing new material for their next studio album, which they are planning to record in 2027 for a 2028 release.[33]
Candlemass is considered adoom metal band with a sound described as exhibiting "dirge-like, sustain-ladenguitar riffing".[34] Candlemass' musical style is significantly influenced by earlyBlack Sabbath. Edling, the band's main songwriter and sole constant member, has drawn inspiration from Black Sabbath, as well as from bands such asBlue Öyster Cult,Mercyful Fate/King Diamond,Bachman–Turner Overdrive,Rush,Nazareth,the Jimi Hendrix Experience,Judas Priest,Motörhead, andVenom.[35]
Candlemass are considered pioneers of thedoom metal subgenre ofheavy metal, and the group's 1986 debut albumEpicus Doomicus Metallicus played a part in coining the genre's name. Eduardo Rivadavia ofAllMusic said Candlemass "helped reintroduce the lumbering power chords of Black Sabbath to an entire generation of post-new wave of British heavy metal and post-thrash metalheads, almost single-handedly writing the handbook for the modern doom metal movement in the process."[36] The band is cited as one of doom metal's "big four", along with American bandsPentagram,Saint Vitus andTrouble.[3]
Current
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