Candlemass

Candlemass is probably the most famous and admired Doom band of all. Glorious pioneer of the 80s alongside Cathedral, the band played a fundamental role in shaping the Doom scene by pushing further the concept of slowing down the Heavy Metal started with Black Sabbath, Trouble, Saint Vitus or Witchfinder General. Some even lend him the word "Doom Metal". More than twenty years after its beginnings, the formation acquired the status of cult group among cult groups, definitively entered the pantheon of Metal music, or even music, simply. It all started in Stockholm in 1984 when bassist Leif Edling decided to reform a group on the ashes of Nemesis, his previous project (some of which will be reworked and then used by Candlemass). The members went and came to the newly named Candlemass band, which recorded three demos, which earned him a deal with the French label Black Dragon. In 1986 for the release of a first album, the line-up is as follows: Leif Edling (bass), Johan Lanquist (chant), Mats Björkman&Klas Bergwall (guitars) and Matz Ekström (battery). It was in 1986 that Epicus Doomicus Metallicus was born, an album that is now regarded as the main piece of the entire band and Doom, the breeder of a new branch: the Epic Doom. But at the time the critics were far from dithyrambic; They certainly salute some originality but nothing more. The waltz of the members continues after this first effort, and it was in 1987 that Eddie "Messiah" Marcolin, a fantasy singer with a unique voice dressed as a monk on stage. After a new demo and the departure of Black Dragon for the British label Active Records, the band beats to the recording of a second album which finally saw the light of November of the same year, entitled Nightfall. Well aided by numerous concerts and distribution in the USA, this new recording explodes the popularity of the band, mainly on the old continent where all the labels are now on the lookout. Almost a year to the day and two demos later, Ancient Dreams , Candlemass' third studio album , comes out and opens the door to success, including an entry into the North American Billboard Charts rankings. Tales of Creation follows the following year, and the band released its first live performance at Metal Blade in 1990, recorded in Stockholm and soberly titled Live. But a major event threatened the survival of the group when Messiah Marcollin decided to leave the ship in full success in 1991. The band then followed a bleak period when the band managed to sign at Music for Nations and record Chapter VI with Tomas Vikström singing, but the heart was not there and the remaining members decided to plunge the band into prolonged sleep. Candlemass then seems condemned, but the formation resurrected unexpectedly by releasing a new opus in 1998, Glamilis Glomerata . New line-up, new singer in the person of Bjorn Flodkvist but still on the same label, this return is not just a simple straw fire since the band repeats the following year with From the 13th Sun. We must wait until 2003 to hear again about the band with the release of Documents of Doom, DVD live / documentary and another live, Doomed for Live - Reunion 2002 . It is said then that Mass is said, but it is not to mention with that devil of Messiah Marcolin who made his great return with Candlemass by releasing an eponymous album in 2005 by Nuclear Blast. Surfing on the wave of this renewed interest, a new live DVD released the same year, titled The Curse of Candlemass . The formation then followed the concerts, and it was said that this time, it did indeed start again. But once again, Messiah Marcolin surprises everyone by rushing away from the band in 2006. After countless rebounds based on true false returns, separation becomes official at the end of the year. Robert Lowe ( Solitude Aeturnus ) was chosen as a replacement in early 2007, and a new album, King of the Grey Islands , was released later in the year, with extremely positive reactions. The band's latest album, Death Magic Doom, was released in 2009, preceded by an EP titled Lucifer Rising. Since then, two live albums as well as a DVD and finally an EP, Don't Fear the Reaper, have been released. In 2012, the band released Psalms for the Dead, which was unanimous among fans and critics, and then embarked on a big, successful tour. The Swedes were discreet until 2015 with the announcement of the release of an EP to celebrate the group's 30th anniversary.