After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but reunited three years later. After breaking up again in 2002, Candlemass reformed in 2004 and have continued to record and perform since then.
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 (session) vocalist Johan Längqvist, drummer Matz Ekström, guitarist Mats "Mappe" Bjorkman and Klas Bergwall. 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. Following the band's debut album Längqvist was replaced by Messiah Marcolin. By the time the band entered the studio to record their second effort, Nightfall, in 1987, Bergwall and Ekström had left the band. Jan Lindh joined the band on drums, and Lars Johansson joined the band on guitars following the completion of the album.
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 in 1991.
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. Both albums featured singer Bjorn Flodqvist.
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)
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 22 June 2007. The album is self-produced except for four songs produced by Andy Sneap. On 31 March 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" Björkman 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 27 March 2009, but it was delayed until 3 April 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 had stated that the album's release date was pushed back to 2012, in order for the band to concentrate on the 25th anniversary of their 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.
On 14 October 2011, it was announced that Candlemass were signed to the Austrian label Napalm Records, who released their eleventh studio album Psalms for the Dead in June 2012. Despite this, bassist Leif 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."
Mats Levén as new singer (2012–2018)
On 2 June 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 was replaced for the band's upcoming shows by longtime 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) also joined the band on stage for these live shows.
In January 2013, Candlemass was voted the greatest Swedish hard rock/metal band of all time by the writers of Sweden Rock Magazine, Scandinavia's biggest hard rock magazine as well as Sweden's biggest music magazine by circulation. They were featured in a list of the 100 greatest Swedish hard rock/metal bands of all time in a special jubilee edition, to celebrate the magazine's 100th issue. In connection with this, it was also revealed that Candlemass, along with death metal band Entombed (No. 2 on the list), were to perform jointly at a special jubilee concert in Stockholm arranged by the magazine. In July 2014, Candlemass headlined the Väsby Rock Festival in their hometown Upplands Väsby.
Despite earlier claims that Psalms for the Dead would be their final album, bassist Leif Edling had stated that he was open to recording new music with Candlemass again. To coincide with the 30th anniversary of Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, Candlemass released the EP Death Thy Lover on 3 June 2016. Additionally, on 29 April 2016, the band released a career-spanning coffee-table book. The book also featured two CDs containing the top picks by Leif Edling and Messiah Marcolin respectively, a CD with rare tracks from their early career (including the Witchcraft demo), and two DVDs with three live performances.
Return of Johan Langquist (2018–present)
On 3 September 2018, Candlemass announced the return of Johan Langquist 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 Langquist 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's Psalms for the Dead, but their first with Langquist since 1986's Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.
On 6 December 2018, Candlemass announced that their twelfth album was titled The Door to Doom and would be released on 22 February 2019. It was also revealed that the album would include a guest appearance by Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, who contributes to a guitar solo to one of the album's tracks "Astorolus - The Great Octopus". The band released an EP The Pendulum on 27 March 2020. According to bassist Leif Edling, Candlemass will likely not release their new studio album until 2022 or 2023.
On 18 August 2022, the band announced their thirteenth studio album, Sweet Evil Sun, would be released on 18 November.
Influences
Candlemass' musical style is markedly influenced by early Black Sabbath. Edling, the band's main songwriter and sole constant member, has been influenced by Black Sabbath, as well as bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Rush, Nazareth, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Judas Priest, Motörhead and Venom.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlemass_(band)
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)
The Door to Doom (2019)
Sweet Evil Sun (2022)
Mourners Lament
Candlemass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be one with you my precious child
Let me cover your bed with tears
I will save you from all fears
I burn the candles for your soul
I sing you prayers as the preacher told
I bring you flowers, I dress in black
Though I know this cannot give you back
[Chorus]
I sleep by your shadow
Remembering your light
In my heart
I'm with you every night
Far goes your journey
Into the unknown
Wherever you might be
Be well my son
Why just you my flesh and blood
I cannot live nor understand
My dearest treasure to be found
Six feet under in sacred ground
Watch me bleed you lucky ones
I envy you your living sons
I'll give mine the strength of my faithful breath
I will mourn him to my death
[Chorus]
Rest in peace
Let me stay here by your side
Be one with you my precious child
Let me cover your bed with tears
I will save you from all fears
I burn the candles for your soul
I sing you prayers as the preacher told
I bring you flowers, I dress in black
Though I know this cannot give you back
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Candlemass's song Mourners Lament express the pain and grief of a parent who has lost their child. The singer is speaking to their deceased child, expressing their desire to stay by their side and be one with them. The singer is so overcome with grief that they are willing to cover their child's bed in tears and pray for their soul. They are desperate to save their child from any fears they may face in the afterlife.
The chorus repeats the lines "I sleep by your shadow, remembering your light. In my heart, I'm with you every night." The singer is haunted by the memory of their child and wants them to know that they are not alone even in death. The second verse questions why the child had to die, stating that they cannot live or understand a life without their beloved child. The singer says that they envy those who still have their sons because they would do anything to have their child back. Finally, the singer promises to mourn their child until their dying breath.
Overall, Mourners Lament is a incredibly emotional song that captures the intense pain of losing a child. The lyrics are raw and honest, exploring the depths of grief and the desperate longing to be reunited with a loved one who has passed away.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me stay here by your side
I want to be close to you, my loved one, because I feel comfort in your presence.
Be one with you my precious child
I want to feel connected with you, my beloved child, as if we are one entity.
Let me cover your bed with tears
I mourn for you so much that my tears cover your bed, representing the depth of my sadness.
I will save you from all fears
I hope to spiritually protect you from any fears or dangers that you may face in the afterlife.
I burn the candles for your soul
By lighting candles, I honor your departed soul and give you hope and light.
I sing you prayers as the preacher told
I am singing prayers for you as suggested by the preacher, hoping they will bring you peace and calmness.
I bring you flowers, I dress in black
I pay tribute to your memory by bringing you flowers and dressing in black, which illustrates my sorrow and respect for you.
Though I know this cannot give you back
Despite my efforts, I know that I cannot bring you back to life or ease my longing for you.
I sleep by your shadow
I sleep near your burial site or in your room, feeling a connection to your presence through your shadow.
Remembering your light
I keep recalling your shining personality and the light that you brought into my life.
In my heart
You are always in my heart, and I hold onto your memory to find comfort.
I'm with you every night
Even though you're gone, I still feel close to you, and we're together in spirit every night.
Far goes your journey
You have embarked on a long journey in the afterlife, and I can only hope that it is a peaceful one for you.
Into the unknown
Your journey is a mystery to us, and it's a place where we can't follow you yet.
Wherever you might be
I may not know where you are, but I hope that you are in a better, happier place.
Be well my son
Even though you're gone, I still want the best for you, and I pray that you are doing well wherever you are.
Why just you my flesh and blood
Why did you have to be the one to pass away? It doesn't make sense to me that my own child could be taken away from me.
I cannot live nor understand
I can't go on with my life without you, and I can't come to terms with the fact that you're gone.
My dearest treasure to be found
You will always be my most precious and cherished possession, even though you're not physically here anymore.
Six feet under in sacred ground
Your body is buried six feet under, and I hope that it's resting in eternal peace in its sacred resting place.
Watch me bleed you lucky ones
You lucky ones who still have living children - watch me grieve and hurt as I try to cope with my loss.
I envy you your living sons
I'm envious of those who still have their children alive, as they have something that I've lost and can never get back.
I'll give mine the strength of my faithful breath
I will live in honor of you and keep your memory alive by giving my other children my full support and encouragement, being the constant presence in their lives that you can no longer be.
I will mourn him to my death
I will never forget you or the love that we shared, and I will always mourn for you until the day that I die.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEIF EDLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Black Hat
Let me stay here by your side
Be one with you my precious child
Let me cover your bed with tears
I will save you from all fears
I burn the candles for your soul
I sing you prayers as the preacher told
I bring you flowers, I dress in black
Though I know this cannot give you back
I sleep by your shadow
Remembering your light
In my heart
I'm with you every night
Far goes your journey
Into the unknown
Wherever you might be
Be well my son
Why just you my flesh my blood
I cannot live nor understand
My dearest treasure to be found
Six feet under in sacred ground
Watch me bleed you lucky ones
I envy you your living sons
I'll give mine the strength of my faithful breath
I will mourn him to my death
Nemo the forlorn entity
"Watch me bleed you lucky ones I envy you your living sons"
Is very deep
mysteriousDSF
once you hear these lyrics, you never forget them
Nope
@Load Game you did well
Black Hat
Let me stay here by your side
Be one with you my precious child
Let me cover your bed with tears
I will save you from all fears
I burn the candles for your soul
I sing you prayers as the preacher told
I bring you flowers, I dress in black
Though I know this cannot give you back
I sleep by your shadow
Remembering your light
In my heart
I'm with you every night
Far goes your journey
Into the unknown
Wherever you might be
Be well my son
Why just you my flesh my blood
I cannot live nor understand
My dearest treasure to be found
Six feet under in sacred ground
Watch me bleed you lucky ones
I envy you your living sons
I'll give mine the strength of my faithful breath
I will mourn him to my death
nick davis
God these lyrics are so heartbreaking.
MetalMistress888
Beautiful, heavy, mournful. What an amazing singer MM is!
Brad Smith
The guitar solo in this song is awesome!
Lorentz Hügel
The bend gets me every time..powerfull
Victoria Morales
Indeed 🖤
Sanju Sunny
Yes! Also the solo in Solitude