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)
Siren Song
Candlemass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lovechants that'll bring me everything
Step out to the woods or let them in
The world goes numb when the sirens sing
I see the light high upon the hill
I'm drawn towards, I feel the sirens will
Have I becomea victim of the wild?
At the gallows pole
Oh, you're swallowed whole
THE SIRENS WILL SUCK ON YOUR SOUL
The siren pack will feast upon my soul
Lick me dry and step over my bones
I can't resist, can't refuse no more
The sirens they will sing for evermore!
Where do the voices of angels come from?
deep down below or above?
Carols of crystal
Serenades of blood
Promising ETERNAL LOVE
The lyrics of Candlemass's "Siren Song" paint the picture of someone who is being drawn towards danger despite being aware of it. The opening lines describe the power of the siren's call, which brings promises of love and everything one desires. The ambiguity of whether the singer should step out to the woods or let the siren in hints at the internal conflict of wanting to give in to the temptation but also knowing the consequences of doing so. The chorus then proclaims that the sirens will "suck on your soul," further emphasizing that it is dangerous to give in to their call.
The second verse describes the singer's physical attraction towards the siren's light, which contrasts with the wish to sleep like a child, free of the temptation. The lines "Have I become a victim of the wild?" suggest that the singer may have lost control of themselves and that the sirens have captured them. The final verse confirms this idea, with the lines "I can't resist, can't refuse no more" showing that the singer has given in completely, and they will now be the feast for the sirens.
The mention of angels' voices and the serenades of blood provide an interesting contrast—angels are typically seen as pure and good, while blood is associated with violence and danger. This further illustrates the idea that the sirens' call is tempting but ultimately destructive.
Overall, "Siren Song" tells a cautionary tale of the dangers of giving in to temptation, highlighting the allure of something dangerous that can ultimately lead one to destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear the siren wail begin
I am aware of the start of the sirens' call
Lovechants that'll bring me everything
The sirens sing tempting songs that promise to fulfill all my desires
Step out to the woods or let them in
I have a choice to either face the sirens or succumb to their call
The world goes numb when the sirens sing
The sirens' song is so powerful that it can make me lose my sense of reality
I see the light high upon the hill
I am drawn to a light that emanates from the sirens' location
I'm drawn towards, I feel the sirens will
I am unable to resist the pull of the sirens' song, which feels like fate
Have I become a victim of the wild?
I question if I am being preyed upon by the natural world
I wish I could sleep on like a child
I long for a simpler time when I didn't have to make difficult choices or face temptation
At the gallows pole
A reference to an execution site, foreshadowing death or punishment for my actions
Oh, you're swallowed whole
You will be consumed entirely by the siren's lure
THE SIRENS WILL SUCK ON YOUR SOUL
The sirens will drain me of my very essence
The siren pack will feast upon my soul
The group of sirens will consume my soul like a banquet
Lick me dry and step over my bones
The sirens will drain me completely and leave only my lifeless body behind
I can't resist, can't refuse no more
I am unable to fight my attraction to the sirens' song any longer
The sirens they will sing for evermore!
The sirens' song will continue on endlessly
Where do the voices of angels come from?
I wonder about the origin of heavenly voices
Deep down below or above?
I question whether these voices come from the underworld or the heavens
Carols of crystal
Heavenly voices filled with clarity and beauty
Serenades of blood
The sirens' song, which is alluring yet ultimately destructive
Promising ETERNAL LOVE
The sirens' song promises a love that will last forever, but at a great and terrible cost
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.