Swedish godfathers of epic doom metal Candlemass celebrate their 40th anniversary of pioneering the genre with a four-track EP, Black Star, due on 9 May via Napalm Records.
With Black Star, the genre-defying band unveils two brand-new songs alongside two cover versions of timeless classics. The EP will be available in various formats, including a strictly limited vinyl edition featuring a 12-page booklet, an A3 poster, and a tote bag.
Candlemass' mastermind Leif Edling comments: "Not all bands get to see their 40th birthday and it certainly hasn't been an easy ride. But many ups and downs later, we stand here as survivors, veterans even... a bit scarred perhaps? Still ready though to unleash another piece of doom-laden metal upon an unsuspecting world. You have to do something when you turn 40, right? Anyway, as always, it's been fun recording some new stuff as well as covering a couple of old favourites".
The title track, "Black Star", blends haunting melodies with deeply introspective lyrics, brought to life by the dark, romantic voice of vocalist Johan Länquist. Songwriter Leif Edling's lyrics delve into themes of existential struggle, temptation, and the allure of darkness - creating an intense atmosphere imbued with Candlemass' signature sound. The second new track, "Corridors Of Chaos", marks a true old-school instrumental containing both classic metal riffing and stunning guitar playing by Lars Johansson, showcasing the band's mastery of dynamics. Adding to this tribute, Candlemass delivers a cover of Black Sabbath's iconic "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", taking listeners back to 1973. The last EP's track is a rendition of Pentagram's classic "Forever My Queen", further cementing Candlemass' remarkable contribution to shaping the genre into what it is today. Link
Black Star tracklist:
1. Black Star
2. Corridors Of Chaos
3. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
4. Forever My Queen
Candlemass Live 2025:
20.-21.06 - DE, Daun Rengen / Der Detze Rockt
25.06. - NO, Oslo / Tons of Rock
04.07. - TR, Istanbul / Headbangers Weekend
20.07. - IT, Cremona / Luppolo In Rock Festival
30.07.-02.08. - NO, Bergen / Beyond the Gates Festival
08.-09.08. - FI, Helsinki / Helsinki Metal Festival
08.-10.08. - BE, Kortrijk / Alcatraz
12.-13.09. - GR, Athens / Rock Hard Festival
01.11. - SE, Stockholm / Berns
06.12. - UK, Wolverhampton / Bloodstock Winter Gathering
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"There were already bands doing small illustrations of symphonic metal, and I was thinking, why doesn't someone do this all the time?" - Christofer Johnsson
"For my sake, I could just stop playing the old stuff, but on the other hand, I know that our fans want it." - Anders Kobro
"We were outsiders, and nobody knew what the fuck was going on. We just listened to this extreme music that nobody else liked, and that made us very strong..." - Mikael Stanne
"Within this darkness, where there's no light at all, the golden raven still shines. It's not like a perfectly cut statue of Michelangelo..." - Val Perun
