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List of Candlemass members

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Candlemass performing live in 2015

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).

History

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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]

Members

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Current

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Candlemass at Inferno Metal Festival Norway 2024 (53627327861).jpg
Leif Edling
  • 1984–1993
  • 1997–present
  • bass
  • vocals (1984–1986)
all Candlemass releases
Candlemass at Inferno Metal Festival Norway 2024 (53626434847).jpg
Mats "Mappe" Björkman
  • 1984–1993
  • 2001–present
  • rhythm guitar
  • lead guitar (1984–1985)
  • all Candlemass releases from the Witchcraft demo (1985) to Sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993), and from Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 (2003) onwards
  • Documents of Doom: Live at Fryshuset 1990 (2002)
Candlemass at Inferno Metal Festival Norway 2024 (53626434657).jpg
Johan Längqvist
  • 1986
  • 2010 (live)
  • 2011 (live)
  • 2018–present
vocals
Candlemass at Inferno Metal Festival Norway 2024 (53627772900).jpg
Jan Lindh
  • 1986–1993
  • 2001–present
drums all Candlemass releases from the untitled 1987 demo (1987) to Sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993), and from Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 (2003) onwards
Candlemass at Inferno Metal Festival Norway 2024 (53627772820).jpg
Lars Johansson lead guitar

Former

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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)
Candlemass - Messiah smiles.jpg
Messiah Marcolin
  • 1986–1991
  • 2002–2006
vocals
  • all Candlemass releases from the untitled 1987 demo (1987) to Live (1990), and from Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 (2003) to The Curse of Candlemass: Live in Stockholm 2003 (2005)
  • Live at the Marquee 1988 (2013)
  • "Dark Are the Veils of Death" (2017)
  • Dynamo Doom (2019)
Mike Wead.jpg
Mike Wead 1987 (substitute)
  • guitar
  • keyboards (studio)
  • Nightfall (1987)
  • "Dark Are the Veils of Death" (2017)
Therion-30 (53587359893).jpg
Thomas Vikström 1991–1993 vocals
  • Chapter VI (1992)
  • Sjunger Sigge Fürst (1993)
  • 20 Year Anniversary Party (2007) – appears on six tracks
Enter the Hunt Hultsfredsfestivalen 2007 02.jpg
Björn Flodkvist 1997–2001
Jejo Perkovic drums
VSpectrum-Avatarium-Carl Westholm-0907.jpg
Carl Westholm 1997–1998 (later session) keyboards
Arch Enemy 17.10.2012 Rockfabrik, Ludwigsburg (8123155213).jpg
Michael Amott 1997–1998 guitar Dactylis Glomerata (1998)
Enter the Hunt Hultsfredsfestivalen 2007 02.jpg
Mats Ståhl 1998–2001
  • From the 13th Sun (1999)
  • "Nimis" (2001)
Candlemass - Robert Lowe.jpg
Robert Lowe 2007–2012 vocals all Candlemass releases from King of the Grey Islands (2007) to Psalms for the Dead (2012)
Candlemass @ Rock Hard Festival 2017 011.jpg
Mats Levén 2012–2018
  • 20 Year Anniversary Party (2007) – appears on one track only
  • Psalms for the Dead (2012)
  • Candlemass vs. Entombed (2013)
  • Death Thy Lover (2016)
  • House of Doom (2018)
  • The Door to Doom (2019)

Touring

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
2016 Kamchatka - by 2eight - DSC3181.jpg
Per Wiberg 2013–2019
  • keyboards
  • bass
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,_Klubben_2008.jpg
Jörgen Sandström 2015–2019 bass Sandström also played bass from 2015.[20]

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
Late 1984 – late 1985
  • Leif Edling – vocals, bass
  • Mappe Björkman – guitar
  • Matz Ekström – drums
  • Witchcraft demo (1985)
  • Studio Garage demo (1985)
Late 1985
  • Leif Edling – vocals, bass
  • Christian Weberyd – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Matz Ekström – drums
  • Bewitched demo (1985)
Early – mid-1986
  • Johan Längqvist – vocals
  • Klas Bergwall – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Matz Ekström – drums
Late 1986 – summer 1987
  • Messiah Marcolin – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
  • untitled 1987 demo (1987)
Summer – autumn 1987
(temporary lineup)
  • Messiah Marcolin – vocals
  • Mike Wead – lead guitar, keyboards
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
  • Nightfall (1987) – select tracks
  • "Dark Are the Veils of Death" (2017)
Autumn 1987 – late 1991
  • Messiah Marcolin – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
Late 1991 – late 1993
  • Thomas Vikström – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
Band inactive late 1993 – summer 1997
Summer 1997 – spring 1998
  • Björn Flodkvist – vocals
  • Michael Amott – guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jejo Perkovic – drums
  • Carl Westholm – keyboards
Summer 1998 – November 2001
  • Björn Flodkvist – vocals
  • Mats Ståhl – guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jejo Perkovic – drums
November 2001 – October 2006
  • Messiah Marcolin – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
January 2007 – June 2012
  • Robert Lowe – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
December 2010, April 2011
(temporary anniversary lineup)
  • Robert Lowe – vocals
  • Johan Längqvist – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
  • Epicus Doomicus Metallicus:
    Live at Roadburn 2011
    (2013)
June 2012 – September 2018
  • Mats Levén – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums
  • Candlemass vs. Entombed (2013)
  • Death Thy Lover (2016)
  • House of Doom (2018)
September 2018 – present
  • Johan Längqvist – vocals
  • Lars Johansson – lead guitar
  • Mappe Björkman – rhythm guitar
  • Leif Edling – bass
  • Jan Lindh – drums

References

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  1. ^ a b Dome, Malcolm (7 September 2020). "Candlemass' Epicus Doomicus Metallicus: the album that changed doom forever". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ^ Parr, George (12 February 2019). "You Are Bewitched: The Legacy of Candlemass". Astral Noize. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Tributes: 'Nightfall' by Candlemass". Metal Invader. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Memento Mori: The Swedish Doom Reminder of the Inevitability of Death". Metal Invader. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ^ Patterson, Dayal (9 September 2014). "Chapter VI – Candlemass". Record Collector. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Dactylis Glomerata (1998)". Candlemass. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. ^ "From the 13th Sun (1999)". Candlemass. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Archive News Nov 15, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Candlemass Split Up — Again". Blabbermouth.net. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Candlemass Reunite, Prepare To Record New Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  11. ^ "It's Official: Vocalist Messiah Marcolin Is Out Of Candlemass". Blabbermouth.net. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Candlemass Taps Solitude Aeturnus Singer To Replace Messiah Marcolin". Blabbermouth.net. 22 January 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Death Magic Doom – Candlemass". Nuclear Blast Records. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Candlemass To Perform Entire 'Epicus' Album With Original Singer At Roadburn Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Candlemass Parts Ways With Singer, Announces Temporary Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Candlemass Parts Way With Singer Mats Léven, Announces Return Of Johan Längqvist". Blabbermouth.net. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  17. ^ "CANDLEMASS: Pro-Shot Footage Of SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL Performance". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  18. ^ "PER WIBERG - Former OPETH / CANDLEMASS Member Streaming New Song "Pile Of Nothing"". bravewords.com. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  19. ^ "CANDLEMASS Mainman LEIF EDLING To Sit Out More Live Performances Due To 'Health Issues'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  20. ^ Munro, Scott (23 February 2015). "Candlemass' Edling to sit out 2015". louder. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
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