Candlemass (band)

This article is about the band Candlemass, for the Christian feast day, see Candlemas.

Candlemass
Candlemass performing live at Wacken Open Air in August 2010
Background information
Origin	Stockholm, Sweden
Genres	Doom metal
Years active	1984–1994 1997–2002 2004–present
Labels	Capitol, Metal Blade, Restless, Nuclear Blast, Napalm Records
Members	Mats Levén Mats Björkman Lars Johansson Leif Edling Jan Lindh
Past members	Johan Längqvist Matz Ekström Thomas Vikström Bjorn Flödkvist Jejo Perkovic Mats Ståhl Carl Westholm Michael Amott Ian Haugland Klas Bergwall Mike Wead Messiah Marcolin Ulf Edelund Patrik Instedt
Website	www.candlemass.se

Candlemass is an influential Swedish doom metal band established in Stockholm 1984 by bassist, songwriter and bandleader Leif Edling. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but decided to reform three years later. After breaking up again in 2002, Candlemass reformed in 2004 and have continued to record and perform since then.

Biography

Formation and early career (1984–1990)

After the breakup of his first band Nemesis, bassist Leif Edling started his own band under the name Candlemass with vocalist Johan Längqvist, guitarist Mats Mappe Bjorkman, and drummer Matz Ekström. Their first release, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986), immediately secured their standing, positioning the band within metal circles, setting a milestone in the doom metal scene. Längqvist only recorded that one album with Candlemass, however. His successor as frontman, Messiah Marcolin, joined the band for their second effort, Nightfall, in 1987. Two other new members appeared on this album: lead guitarist Lars Johansson and drummer Jan Lindh.

Candlemass's next two albums were Ancient Dreams (1988) and Tales of Creation (1989). In 1990, the band released a live album Live. Shortly afterward, a dispute between the band members resulted in Messiah Marcolin's departure.

New singer-era, hiatus and first reunion (1991–2003)

After Marcolin left, Candlemass recruited vocalist Thomas Vikström and recorded Chapter VI (1992). The band then toured in support of that album. By 1994, Candlemass had called it quits, partly because Chapter VI was unsuccessful and partially because Edling had formed another project under the name of Abstrakt Algebra. With Abstrakt Algebra not doing well, Leif suddenly recruited a new line-up under the name of Candlemass and recorded the album Dactylis Glomerata, which was a combination of songs for a new Abstrakt Algebra CD and some new material. A year later the album From the 13th Sun was released.

In 2002, the members of a past Candlemass line-up reunited. They performed some well-received live shows and released another live album. Other albums released by the reformed band were remastered versions of Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, Nightfall, Ancient Dreams, and Tales of Creation. A DVD called Documents of Doom was released as well. The band was working on a new album and recorded some new songs while searching for a record label when differences arose again, resulting in Candlemass disbanding a second time. In the meantime, Leif Edling started a new project, Krux, with former Abstrakt Algebra singer Mats Levén and two members of Entombed.

Second reunion (2004–2006)

Messiah and Leif at Wacken Open Air 2005

In November 2004, the band announced that they had re-united for the second time. They had recorded a new album, named simply Candlemass, with the same line-up. It was released in May 2005. They won a Swedish Grammy for it in 2005.

In 2006 the band announced that a new album was in preparation, to be released sometime in 2007. In October 2006, after much uncertainty regarding Messiah Marcolin's participation, it was settled that Messiah was out for good.

Robert Lowe era (2007–2012)

Candlemass found a new vocalist, Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus), who recorded with the band's ninth album King of the Grey Islands, which was released on June 22, 2007. The album is self-produced except for four songs produced by Andy Sneap.

On March 31, 2007, Candlemass celebrated a slightly delayed twentieth anniversary. To commemorate the celebration, original singer Johan Längqvist appeared live with the band for the first time. The event was recorded and later released as a DVD.

Mats "Mappe" Bjorkman was sentenced to serve two years behind bars for grand theft in March 2008. He has been convicted of stealing over 35,000 CDs and DVDs priced at around 3 million Sek (Around $500,000).

Candlemass worked on a tenth studio album in 2008. It was intended to be titled Hammer of Doom, but they renamed it to Death Magic Doom because the name coincided with a German festival. The album was scheduled to be released on March 27, 2009, but it was delayed until April the 3rd 2009.

In 2009, bassist Leif Edling told Soundshock that work on the next Candlemass album would likely begin before 2011. However, this plan fell through, and Leif has stated that the album's release date will be pushed back to 2012, in order for the band concentrate on the 25th anniversary of their 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.

On October 14, 2011, it was announced that Candlemass were signed to the Austrian label Napalm Records, who will release their final studio album Psalms for the Dead in June 2012. Despite this, bassist Leif Edling has said that the band will not split up and they want to stop before they "get too old and start putting out half-lame albums."

Robert Lowe's departure and future

On June 2, 2012, Candlemass announced via their website that Robert Lowe had left the band as vocalist, mainly due to the quality of the live performances and explained to be "a very difficult decision for the band", and would be replaced for the band's upcoming shows by long time friend and collaborator of Candlemass, Mats Levén (Of Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion, Treat and At Vance fame among others). Levén had earlier worked with Leif Edling in Abstrakt Algebra and Krux and sang on demos from the Candlemass and King of the Grey Islands sessions, found on the box set Doomology. In addition, keyboardist Per Wiberg (Ex-Opeth, Spiritual Beggars) would also join the band on stage for these live shows.

Band members

Current

• Mats Levén – lead vocals (2012–present)
• Lars Johansson – lead guitars (1987–1994, 2002, 2004–present)
• Mats "Mappe" Björkman – rhythm guitars (1984–1994, 2002, 2004–present)
• Leif Edling – bass (1984–1994, 1997–2002, 2004–present)
• Jan Lindh – drums, percussion (1987–1994, 2002, 2004–present)

Former

• Johan Längqvist – lead vocals (1984–1986)
• Matz Ekström – drums, percussion (1984–1986)
• Thomas Vikström – lead vocals (1991–1994)
• Messiah Marcolin – lead vocals (1987–1991, 2002, 2004–2006)
• Björn Flodkvist – lead vocals (1997–2001)
• Jejo Perkovic – drums, percussion (1997–2001)
• Mats Ståhl – rhythm guitars (1999–2001)
• Robert Lowe – lead vocals (2006–2012)

Session

• Klas Bergwall – lead guitars (1986)
• Mike Wead – lead guitars (1987)
• Ian Haugland – drums, percussion (1997)
• Ulf Edelund – lead guitars (1997)
• Patrik Instedt – lead guitars (1997)
• Carl Westholm – keyboards (1997–1998, 1999)
• Michael Amott – lead guitars (1997–1998)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)
• Nightfall (1987)
• Ancient Dreams (1988)
• Tales of Creation (1989)
• Chapter VI (1992)
• Dactylis Glomerata (1998)
• From the 13th Sun (1999)
• Candlemass (2005)
• King of the Grey Islands (2007)
• Death Magic Doom (2009)
• Psalms for the Dead (2012)

Live albums

• Live (1990)
• Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 (2002)
• No Sleep 'til Athens (2010)
• Ashes to Ashes (2010)

Compilation albums

• As It Is, As It Was (1994)
• Black Heart of Candlemass (2002)
• Diamonds of Doom (2003) (limited vinyl record)
• Essential Doom (2004)
• Dactylis Glomerata & Abstrakt Algebra II (previously unreleased album) (2008)

Box Sets

• Doomology (2010)

EPs and singles

• Samarithan (1988)
• At the Gallows End (1988)
• Sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993)
• Nimis (2001)
• At the Gallows End/Samarithan (2005)
• Dark Reflections/Into The Unfathomed Tower (2005)
• Mirror Mirror/The Bells Of Acheron (2005)
• Solitude/Crystal Ball (2005)
• Assassin of the Light (2005)
• Black Dwarf (with Robert Lowe on vocals) (2007)
• Lucifer Rising (2008)
• Don't Fear the Reaper (2010)

Demos

• Witchcraft (1984)
• Second demo (1984)
• Tales of Creation (1985)
• Demo with Marcolin (1987)

DVDs

• Documents of Doom (2002)
• The Curse of Candlemass (2005)
• Candlemass 20 Year Anniversary (2007)
• Ashes to Ashes Live (2010)

External links

• Candlemass official webpage
• Candlemass discography at Discogs
• Candlemass discography at MusicBrainz
• Candlemass at MySpace