Candlemass basically redefined what doom metal was in 1986 with their Epicus Doomicus Metallicus album. The band did not have a vocalist at the time and recruited Johan Längquist for the record. Längquist departed the band later that same year and was replaced by Messiah Marcolin shortly thereafter.
Now a full 32 years later, Längquist has rejoined the band. Here's what the band had to say about the reunion, which also alludes to the fact that maybe there was a bit of a problem with ex-vocalist Mats Levén. According to the statement, Levén left midway through recording the new album, so it seems relatively safe to assume the new stuff will be all Längquist.
THE RETURN TO DOOM!!
EPICUS DOOMICUS METALLICUS SINGER JOHAN LANGQUIST IS BACK IN CANDLEMASS
Shocking news! EPICUS singer Johan Langquist is back after a 32 year hiatus replacing Mats Levén who’s been with the band since 2012. This is right in the middle of recording the new album. What happened?
“We wanted to find our way back to the roots of Candlemass, back to the soul and essence of the band. Johan Langquist is back and we hope this will give us some new energy and kickstart the heart of doom again. We don’t know if it will last 10 more years or even 5, but if it will give us just another year of having fun and playing the music that we love so much, it will be a blast! The circle is closed, Johan is back!"
More news will follow soon….
Längquist replaces Mats Levén, who was in Candlemass in 2006 and again from 2015 until this year. You can watch the band rehearsing their track "Solitude" with Längquist below.
