Candlemass
| a.k.a. | ex-Nemesis |
|---|---|
| Country | Sweden |
| Formed | 1984, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Epic Doom Metal |
| Labels | Black Dragon Records, Axis Records, Active Records, Music for Nation, Nuclear Blast, Napalm Records |
| Years active | 1982-1984 (Nemesis), 1984-1994, 1997-2002, 2004-present |
| Website | http://www.candlemass.se/ |
Line-up (members)
- Leif Edling : Bass (1984-1994, 1997-2002, 2004-present), Vocals (1984-1986)
- Mats "Mappe" Björkman : Rhythm Guitars (1985-1994, 2001-2002, 2004-present)
- Johan Längquist : Vocals (1986, 2018-present)
- Jan Lindh : Drums (1987-1994, 2001-2002, 2004-present)
- Lars "Lasse" Johansson : Lead Guitars (1987-1994, 2001-2002, 2004-present)
Former members
- Kjell Svensson : Guitars
- Matz Ekström : Drums (1985-1986)
- Christian Weberyd : Guitars (1985)
- Johnny Reinholm : Guitars, Drums (1985)
- Messiah Marcolin : Vocals (1986-1991, 2001-2002, 2004-2006)
- Mike Wead : Guitars (1987)
- Thomas Vikström : Vocals (1992-1994)
- Jejo Perković : Drums (1998-2001)
- Michael Amott : Guitars (1998)
- Mats Ståhl : Guitars (1998-2001)
- Carl Westholm : Keyboards (1998)
- Björn Flodkvist : Vocals (1998-2001)
- Tony Martin : Vocals (2004)
- Robert Lowe : Vocals (2006-2012)
- Mats Levén : Vocals (2015-2018)
Candlemass Lyrics (145)
Candlemass Discography
| Album title | Lyrics | Type | Released | Rating | Votes | Reviews | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tales of Creation (1985) | Demo | 1985 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Witchcraft (1985) | Demo | 1985-06 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Demo (1986) | Demo | 1986 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | Lyrics |  |
 |
Studio | 1986-06-10 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
| Demo with Marcolin (1987) | Demo | 1987-03-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Nightfall (1987) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1987-11-09 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Samarithan (1988) | Single | 1988-03-10 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| At the Gallows End (1988) | Single | 1988-07-22 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Ancient Dreams (1988) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1988-11-23 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Mirror, Mirror (1989) | Single | 1989 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Tales of Creation (1989) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1989-12-31 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Candlemass Live (1990) | |
|
Live | 1990 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
 |
Chapter VI (1992) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1992-05-25 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Candlemass sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 1993-05 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| The Best of Candlemass: As It Is, as It Was (1994) | |
|
Compilation | 1994-10-10 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
 |
Dactylis Glomerata (1998) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1998-04-13 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Wiz (1998) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 1998-07 | - | 0 | 0 | |
 |
From the 13th Sun (1999) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 1999-09-06 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Nimis (2001) | Single | 2001-10 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Documents of Doom - Live at Fryshuset 1990 (2002) | |
|
Video | 2002 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Doomed for Live - Reunion 2002 (2003) | |
|
Live | 2003-01-20 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Diamonds of Doom (2003) | |
|
Compilation | 2003-03-25 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Essential Doom (2004) | |
|
Compilation | 2004-11-22 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Doom Songs: The Singles 1986-1989 (2005) | |
|
Boxed set | 2005 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Solitude / Crystal Ball (2005) | Single | 2005-01-24 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Mirror, Mirror / The Bells of Acheron (2005) | Single | 2005-02-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| At the Gallows End / Samarithan (2005) | Single | 2005-02-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Dark Reflections / Into the Unfathomed Tower (2005) | Single | 2005-02-28 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Candlemass (2005) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2005-05-02 | - | 0 | 0 |
| The Curse of Candlemass: Live in Stockholm 2003 (2005) | |
|
Video | 2005-09-26 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Nile Sampler (2007) | |
|
Split | 2007 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Black Dwarf (2007) | Single | 2007 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
King of the Grey Islands (2007) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2007-06-22 | - | 0 | 0 |
| 20 Year Anniversary Party (2007) | |
|
Video | 2007-10-22 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lucifer Rising (2008) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2008-10-02 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| If I Ever Die (2009) | Single | 2009-02 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Death Magic Doom (2009) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2009-04-03 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Hammer of Doom (2009) | Single | 2009-04-14 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| No Sleep 'til Athens (2010) | |
|
Live | 2010 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ashes to Ashes (2010) | |
|
Live | 2010-04-23 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ashes to Ashes (2010) | |
|
Video | 2010-04-23 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Doomology (2010) | |
|
Boxed set | 2010-09-20 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Don't Fear the Reaper (2010) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2010-12-18 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Dancing in the Temple (of the Mad Queen Bee) (2012) | Single | 2012-04-13 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Psalms for the Dead (2012) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2012-06-08 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Introducing Candlemass (2013) | |
|
Compilation | 2013 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Live at the Marquee 1988 (2013) | |
|
Live | 2013 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Candlemass vs. Entombed (2013) | |
|
Split | 2013-01-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Epicus Doomicus Metallicus - Live at Roadburn 2011 (2013) | |
|
Live | 2013-07-12 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Gothic Stone (2014) | |
|
Compilation | 2014-12 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Behind the Wall of Doom (2016) | |
|
Compilation | 2016-04-28 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Death Thy Lover (2016) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2016-06-03 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Dark Are the Veils of Death (2017) | Single | 2017-05-12 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| House of Doom (2018) | Single | 2018-04-27 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| House of Doom (2018) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2018-05-25 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| The Nuclear Blast Recordings (2018) | |
|
Boxed set | 2018-10-12 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
 |
The Door to Doom (2019) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2019-02-22 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Dynamo Doom (2019) | |
|
Live | 2019-12-06 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Pendulum (2020) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2020-03-27 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Green Valley (2021) | |
|
Live | 2021-05-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Scandinavian Gods (2022) | Single | 2022-08-18 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| When Death Sighs (2022) | Single | 2022-11-16 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Sweet Evil Sun (2022) | Lyrics | |
|
Studio | 2022-11-18 | - | 0 | 0 |
| Tritonus Nights (2024) | |
|
Live | 2024-05-29 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Coming of Nightfall (2025) | |
|
Compilation | 2025-04-04 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Black Star (2025) | Lyrics | |
|
EP | 2025-05-09 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Dark Are the Veils of Death (2025) | |
|
Compilation | 2025-05-30 | - | 0 | 0 |
Best Candlemass Songs
| Track title | Album title | Rating | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Ball | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 65 | 1 |
| 2 | Under the Oak | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 65 | 1 |
| 3 | Solitude | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 60 | 1 |
| 4 | Black Stone Wielder | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 60 | 1 |
| 5 | A Sorcerer's Pledge | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 60 | 1 |
| 6 | Demon's Gate | Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986) | 55 | 1 |
Additional notes
Originators of the epic doom metal style.
Candlemass perhaps got its earliest start in 1982 when several of its members-to-be were in a band called Nemesis. After ten years together, Candlemass split up in 1994, but Leif Edling resurrected the band in 1997 for Dactylis Glomerata because labels weren't interested in his new band, Abstrakt Algebra. The classic lineup reunited in 2001.
2012's Psalms for the Dead was announced as their last studio album. Afterward, they continued to perform live, and eventually another full-length, The Door to Doom, was recorded in 2018.
Robert Lowe was fired in June 2012, due to poor live performances. Mats Levén was announced as a live replacement, who however went on to record two EPs with them.
Johan Langquist sang on their debut as a guest, auditioned to join in 1991 (but did not), and performed live with the band on occasion, usually when they played Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in its entirety. He finally joined in 2018.
Carl Westholm was part of Candlemass' official line-up in 1998, and often provides keyboard parts on their albums.
At the 2014 Roadburn Festival in Holland, they performed Ancient Dreams in its entirety. Alan Averill joined them on stage to sing "Incarnation of Evil".
In November 2014, Leif Edling announced he would be taking a year off the band's activities for health reasons. Keyboard player Per Wiberg deputized on bass, with Jörgen Sandström filling in when Per could not.
In 2016, Metal Hammer released Epicus Doomicus Hellenicus - 30th Year Anniversary - A Tribute To Candlemass, a complete re-recording of Candlemass' debut album by Greek doom metal bands.
Candlemass perhaps got its earliest start in 1982 when several of its members-to-be were in a band called Nemesis. After ten years together, Candlemass split up in 1994, but Leif Edling resurrected the band in 1997 for Dactylis Glomerata because labels weren't interested in his new band, Abstrakt Algebra. The classic lineup reunited in 2001.
2012's Psalms for the Dead was announced as their last studio album. Afterward, they continued to perform live, and eventually another full-length, The Door to Doom, was recorded in 2018.
Robert Lowe was fired in June 2012, due to poor live performances. Mats Levén was announced as a live replacement, who however went on to record two EPs with them.
Johan Langquist sang on their debut as a guest, auditioned to join in 1991 (but did not), and performed live with the band on occasion, usually when they played Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in its entirety. He finally joined in 2018.
Carl Westholm was part of Candlemass' official line-up in 1998, and often provides keyboard parts on their albums.
At the 2014 Roadburn Festival in Holland, they performed Ancient Dreams in its entirety. Alan Averill joined them on stage to sing "Incarnation of Evil".
In November 2014, Leif Edling announced he would be taking a year off the band's activities for health reasons. Keyboard player Per Wiberg deputized on bass, with Jörgen Sandström filling in when Per could not.
In 2016, Metal Hammer released Epicus Doomicus Hellenicus - 30th Year Anniversary - A Tribute To Candlemass, a complete re-recording of Candlemass' debut album by Greek doom metal bands.