Candlemass is a Swedish epic doom metal band from Stockholm. Formed in late 1984, the group originally consisted of bassist and vocalist Leif Edling, guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman, and drummer Matz Ekström. The group's current lineup includes Edling on bass, Björkman on rhythm guitar (a constant member, save for 1997–2001), vocalist Johan Längqvist (originally a member in 1986, and since 2018), drummer Jan Lindh, and lead guitarist Lars Johansson (both from 1986 to 1993 and since 2001).
Leif Edling founded Candlemass in late 1984 after the breakup of his previous band Nemesis, completing the initial lineup with the addition of guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman and drummer Matz Ekström.[1] After three demos in 1985 – the third of which featured lead guitarist Christian Weberyd – the band recorded its debut album Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in early 1986, with Johan Längqvist on vocals and Klas Bergwall on lead guitar.[1] Both new members remained only for the recording of the album, after which they left again, followed shortly by Ekström.[2] Langqvist, Bergwall and Ekström were replaced by Messiah Marcolin, Lars Johansson and Jan Lindh, respectively; just before the recording of 1987's Nightfall, however, Johansson broke his arm and was briefly replaced by Mike Wead, before returning to finish the album.[3]
The lineup of Marcolin, Johansson, Björkman, Edling and Lindh released Ancient Dreams in 1988, Tales of Creation in 1989 and Live in 1990, before Marcolin left Candlemass prior to the recording of Chapter VI, reportedly after an argument with Edling.[4] He was replaced for the album's recording and subsequent touring cycle by Thomas Vikström.[5] The new lineup released Sjunger Sigge Fürst, before Edling disbanded the group in late 1993 ahead of forming Abstrakt Algebra.[6] After releasing one album and recording a second which remained unreleased until 2006, Abstrakt Algebra were disbanded and replaced by a reformed Candlemass, who recorded Dactylis Glomerata with a new lineup composed of Edling alongside vocalist Björn Flodkvist, guitarist Michael Amott, drummer Jejo Perkovic and keyboardist Carl Westholm.[6]
Just a few months after the release of Dactylis Glomerata, Amott was replaced by Mats Ståhl and the band recorded their seventh album, From the 13th Sun.[7] By November 2001, following months of rumours, the 'classic lineup' of Candlemass had reunited, with Messiah Marcolin, Lars Johansson, Mappe Björkman and Jan Lindh all rejoining the group.[8] After releasing Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002, the band reported in May 2004 that they had broken up again due to musical differences.[9] Just six months later, however, they announced that they had reconsidered their decision to break up, and in 2005 released a self-titled studio album.[10] Marcolin claimed in April 2006 that he had left Candlemass again, although he remained with the band until October, when he officially departed due to various ongoing issues.[11]
Marcolin was replaced in January 2007 by Robert Lowe, best known as the frontman of Solitude Aeturnus.[12] With their new lineup, Candlemass released King of the Grey Islands in 2007, Lucifer Rising in 2008 and Death Magic Doom in 2009.[13] In December 2010 and April 2011, original vocalist Johan Längqvist performed with the band to mark the 25th anniversary of Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.[14] Six days before the release of his third full-length album with the band, Psalms for the Dead, Lowe was dismissed from the group due to "the quality of the live performances". He was replaced by Mats Levén, who had previously performed with Edling in Abstrakt Algebra.[15] Levén remained untiol September 2018, when Längqvist returned full-time for the first time in the band's history.[16]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leif Edling | all Candlemass releases | |||
| Mats "Mappe" Björkman | ||||
| Johan Längqvist | vocals | |||
| Jan Lindh | drums | all Candlemass releases from the untitled 1987 demo (1987) to Sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993), and from Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 (2003) onwards | ||
| Lars Johansson | lead guitar |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matz Ekström | 1984–1986 | drums | all Candlemass releases from the Witchcraft demo (1985) to Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | |
| Christian Weberyd | 1985 | lead guitar | Bewitched demo (1985) | |
| Klas Bergwall | 1986 | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | ||
| Messiah Marcolin | vocals | |||
| Mike Wead | 1987 | |||
| Thomas Vikström | 1991–1993 | vocals | ||
| Björn Flodkvist | 1997–2001 | |||
| Jejo Perkovic | 1997–2001 | drums | ||
| Carl Westholm | 1997–1998 | keyboards | ||
| Michael Amott | 1997–1998 | guitar | Dactylis Glomerata (1998) | |
| Mats Ståhl | 1998–2001 | |||
| Robert Lowe | 2007–2012 | vocals | all Candlemass releases from King of the Grey Islands (2007) to Psalms for the Dead (2012) | |
| Mats Levén | 2012–2018 |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Wiberg | 2013–2019 | Wiberg played keyboards with the band from 2013 to 2019,[17] [18] he also played bass when Elding was forced to sit out touring.[19] | |||
| Jörgen Sandström | 2015–2019 | bass | Sandström also played bass from 2015.[20] |
| Period | Members | Releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late 1984 – late 1985 |
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| Late 1985 |
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| Early – mid-1986 |
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| Late 1986 – summer 1987 |
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| Summer – autumn 1987 |
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| Autumn 1987 – late 1991 |
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| Late 1991 – late 1993 |
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| Band inactive late 1993 – summer 1997 | |||
| Summer 1997 – spring 1998 |
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| Summer 1998 – November 2001 |
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| November 2001 – October 2006 |
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| January 2007 – June 2012 |
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| December 2010, April 2011 |
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| June 2012 – September 2018 |
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| September 2018 – present |
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