This article is about the band Candlemass, for the Christian feast day, see Candlemas.
Candlemass
are a Swedish doom metal band established in the 1980s by Leif Edling (bass), their leader and songwriter. The band are originally from Stockholm.
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CANDLEMASS TICKETS
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Biography
After the breakup of his first band Nemesis in 1985, 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.
[1] 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). The latter album is distinguished from previous releases by adding some musical patterns speeding up the tempo (which is usually associated with
progressive metal) into the band's original sound. In 1990, the band released a live album. Shortly afterward, a dispute between the band members resulted in Messiah Marcolin's departure.
After Marcolin left, Candlemass recruited vocalist
Thomas Vikström and recorded
Chapter VI
(1992). Candlemass then disbanded, partly because the album 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 couple of years later the
Black Sabbath-inspired 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 Leven and two members of
Entombed.
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. The band then found a new vocalist,
Robert Lowe (
Solitude Aeturnus)
[2] [3], who recorded with the band's new album
King of the Grey Islands
, which was released on June 22, 2007.
The new album is self-produced except for four songs produced by
Andy Sneap.
[4]
On March 31, 2007, Candlemass celebrated a slightly delayed twentieth anniversary. To commemorate the celebration, original singer Johan Längqvist's appearance 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)
[5] [6].
Candlemass worked on a full-length album in 2008. It was intended to be
Hammer of Doom
, but they renamed it to
Death Magic Doom because a german festival is named with that name.
[7] The album was scheduled to be released on March 27, 2009, but it was delayed until April the 3rd 2009.
[8]
Band Members
;Current
- Robert Lowe – lead vocals (2006–present)
- Lars Johansson – lead guitars (1987–1992, 2002, 2004–present)
- Mats "Mappe" Björkman – rhythm guitars (1985–1992, 2002, 2004–present)
- Leif Edling – bass (1985–1992, 1997–2002, 2004–present)
- Jan Lindh – drums, percussion (1987–1992, 2002, 2004–present)
;Former
- Johan Längqvist – lead vocals (1985–1986)
- Matz Ekström – drums, percussion (1985–1986)
- Thomas Vikström – lead vocals (1991–1992)
- Björn Flodkvist – lead vocals (1997–2001)
- Jejo Perkovic – drums, percussion (1997–2001)
- Mats Ståhl – rhythm guitars (1999–2001)
- Messiah Marcolin – lead vocals (1987–1991, 2002, 2004–2006)
;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)
Discography
;Studio albums
- 1986: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
- 1987: Nightfall
- 1988: Ancient Dreams
- 1989: Tales of Creation
- 1992: Chapter VI
- 1998: Dactylis Glomerata
- 1999: From the 13th Sun
- 2005: Candlemass
- 2007: King of the Grey Islands
- 2009: Death Magic Doom
;Live albums
;EPs
- 1993: Sjunger Sigge Fürst
- 2008: Lucifer Rising
;Compilations
- 1994: As It Is, As It Was
- 2002: Black Heart of Candlemass
- 2003: Diamonds of Doom
(limited vinyl record)
- 2004: Essential Doom
- 2008: Dactylis Glomerata & Abstrakt Algebra II (previously unreleased album)
;DVDs
- 2002: Documents of Doom
- 2005: The Curse of Candlemass
- 2007: Candlemass 20 Year Anniversary
;Singles
- 1988: Samarithan
- 1988: At the Gallows End
- 2005: Assassin of the Light
- 2007: Black Dwarf (with Robert Lowe on vocals)
References
- allmusic ((( Candlemass > Biography )))
- Blabbermouth.Net - Candlemass Taps Solitude Aeturnus Singer To Replace Messiah Marcolin
- BLABBERMOUTH.NET - SOLITUDE AETURNUS Guitarist Comments On Singer Joining CANDLEMASS
- Candlemass: 'metal, doom and garlic'
- Realtid.se: Känd svensk gitarrist fick fängelse
- Aftonbladet: Musiker dömd till fängelse
- Candlemass new album finally mixed!
- Candlemass - New Album Details: News @ metalstorm.ee