Candle Mass Epicus Doomicus Matallicus
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Limited Edition 35-year anniversary 3LP deluxe set for release on Peaceville on 3rd June

Special triple coloured vinyl set commemorating 35 years of the iconic debut of masterful doom metal, containing remastered audio, plus rare pre-epicus recordings from 1985 including the legendary ‘witchcraft’ demo. Also includes 8 page booklet, A2 poster, & letter print from founder Leif Edling.

Candlemass was formed by bassist and songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm, Sweden in 1984, and is well known for its epic doom metal, having a great influence over a generation of the genre’s subsequent greats – Candlemass themselves taking a large influence from Black Sabbath.
‘Epicus Doomicus Metallicus’ is a true genre classic, with every track a monument of timeless and finely crafted Doom. This is one of the quintessential, definitive Doom Metal releases, immortalising the band in the annals of music history & creating the foundations of a legacy spanning over thirty-five years. Going against the grain of bands at the time using speed to bolster their metal with the ongoing rise of thrash in Europe and the US, Candlemass eschewed this direction, and formed a phenomenon of their own through the latter part of the decade and beyond with their slow & spellbinding atmospherics. ‘Epicus…’ was recorded at Thunderload Studios in 1986 and was released later that same year, with the grand and inspiring vocals for the debut handled by Johan Längqvist.

“EPICUS was our first, and perhaps also the best. I have no clue what we did there in the studio deep under the Stockholm subway, but some sort of magic was created. This is a record I would gladly be buried with!”
Leif Edling

Now, marking 35 years of the iconic debut, this Candlemas endorsed, deluxe triple vinyl release includes a new remastered version of the album itself, as well as a collection of Candlemass’ essential 1985 recordings preceding the ‘Epicus…’ session, in the form of the ‘Witchcraft’ demo plus the OAL studio recordings, & completed by the band’s Upplands Väsby rehearsal from November of 1985.
Each vinyl is presented with its own sleeve, with the ‘Epicus Doomicus Metallicus’ LP containing a layout closely reflecting the original edition, with images used on its initial pressings. The set also includes an 8 page 12” booklet with images from the era and accompanying text, plus A2 poster, as well as a handwritten letter print from founder Leif Edling.

Candlemass will be playing Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in full when they play in Zappa in Antwerpen (BE) on 14th May 2022

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Double Candlemass releases coming to Peaceville to mark 30th anniversary including special commemorative book/audio set.

To coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Swedish doom greats, particularly the legendary 1986 debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, Peaceville Records have lined up 2 special Candlemass releases for 2016.

Commencing with a limited picture disc vinyl release of Epicus… for record store day on 16th April, this will be followed on April 29th by Behind the Wall of Doom; an extensive 3CD/2DVD set with a 92 page book written by Per-Ola Nilsson, chronicling the rise and domination of the pioneering Swedes, in the quest of firmly stamping their mark on the metal world. Also included are demos plus rare and previously unheard tracks from the band’s 1985 rehearsals, alongside choice tracks from Candlemass’ early classic releases, as selected by Leif Edling and Messiah Marcolin. The set is completed with extensive DVD footage featuring several integral band performances over the decades, including the much sought and revered Dynamo performance from 1988.

Says Leif Edling on Behind the Wall of Doom:
“We are celebrating 30 years as a band with this set, and as a result I’ve been digging out old photos I haven’t seen in 30 years, rehearsal tapes I didn’t know existed, and live shows I hardly remember playing!
I’m sure our fans will drool over the Dynamo 88 DVD. It was our breakthrough gig and the stage is bursting with youthful energy! All in front of 30 000 ecstatic headbangers. Messiah trips over the monitor, my fake leather robe, Mappe’s classic white B.C. rich & a band going for the throat! We also present to you Bang Your Head 2005. It’s raw and intense, and shows a band back in the saddle with absolutely nothing to prove. I haven’t seen this myself since we played the actual show, so it certainly brings back fond memories!

It all comes with a 92 page 33 x 33 coffee table book. Loads of rare and never before seen photos from EPICUS up to recent years. Per-Ola Nilsson has written a very ambitious, comprehensive history of the band, complete with new interviews, cool facts and no bull. It’s all there…warts ‘n’ all!! Lemmy R.I.P. “

Candlemass was formed by bassist and songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm, Sweden in 1984, and they are well known for their epic doom metal and having a great influence over a generation of the genre’s subsequent greats – Candlemass themselves taking a large influence from Black Sabbath.

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CANDLEMASS BIOGRAPHY

After the breakup of his first band Nemesis, bassist Leif Edling started his own band under the name Candlemass with vocalist Johan Längqvist, guitarist Mats Mappe Bjorkman, and drummer Matz Ekström. 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.

 

Längqvist only recorded that one album with Candlemass, however. His successor as frontman, Messiah Marcolin, joined the band for their second effort, Nightfall, in 1987. Two other new members appeared on this album: lead guitarist Lars Johansson and drummer Jan Lindh.Read More

 

Candlemass’s next two albums were Ancient Dreams (1988) and Tales of Creation (1989). In 1990, the band released a live album. Shortly afterward, a dispute between the band members resulted in Messiah Marcolin’s departure.

 

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.

 

In 2002, the members of a past Candlemass line-up reunited. They performed some well-received live shows[citation needed] 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 Leven and two members of Entombed.

 

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.

 

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 June 22, 2007. The album is self-produced except for four songs produced by Andy Sneap. On March 31, 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.

 

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 March 27, 2009, but it was delayed until April the 3rd 2009. In 2009, bassist Leif Edling told Soundshock that work on the next Candlemass album would likely begin before 201. However, this plan fell through, and Leif stated that the album’s release date was to go back to 2012, in order for the band concentrate on the 25th anniversary of their 1986 debut ‘Epicus Doomicus Metallicus’.