Candlemass
This Swedish doom metal quintet formed in 1985, and originally comprised Leif Edling (bass), Mats Bjorkman (guitar), Johan Lanquist (vocals), and Matz Ekstrom (drums). The band was based around chief songwriter Edling, who had previously played (alongside Weberyd) in Nemesis. Following the release of Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, Jan Lindh, Lasse Johansson and Messiah Marcolin joined on drums, guitar and vocals respectively. During live performances, Marcolin dressed in a monk's habit, and his deep, bellowing tones added a touch of mystique to the band's style, which combined elements of Black Sabbath, Black Widow and Mercyful Fate. 1987's Nightfall, their most accomplished work, fused crushing rhythms with delicate, neo-classical interludes to startling effect. Their fourth album Tales Of Creation evidenced that the band afforded a larger recording budget with new label Music For Nations. However, their approach had become rather formularized by this stage, and although the album was technically superior to earlier efforts, the songs left a distinct feeling of dj
vu. A live album followed in an attempt to recapture lost ground. It soon became apparent that the band was trapped in a creative cul-de-sac, with their initial followers continuing to move on to other things. Marcolin left in 1991, to be replaced by Tomas Vikstrm (ex-Talk Of The Town). After one further album, 1992's Chapter VI, the band folded, with Edling going on to form Abstrakt Algebra.
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Albums
- (1987) Nightfall
Top Tracks
- Dark Are the Veils of Death
- The Well of Souls
- At the Gallows End
- Bewitched
- Gothic Stone
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