Legendary Swedish doom metal pioneers Candlemass are back at it, crafting new music to commemorate their 40-year reign in the genre. The band is currently working on a special four-song “jubilee EP” titled “Black Star,” which will feature two brand-new tracks alongside two covers. The EP is slated for release in the spring of 2025, just in time for the band’s monumental anniversary.
According to the band, drummer Jan Lind has wrapped up his parts at Sound Trade studios in Solna, Sweden, while guitarist Lars Johansson is busy layering his signature guitar overdubs for the EP, expected to drop in May 2025 via Napalm Records.
This release follows Candlemass’s 2022 album, “Sweet Evil Sun,” which was in development for 18 months and brought back the essence of the band’s early days, exploring intense themes like ambition, hope, and failure. “Sweet Evil Sun” was recorded at NOX Studio in Stockholm, delivering the classic grandiose doom metal sound Candlemass is known for.
As the originators of epic doom metal, Candlemass has set the standard for the genre with iconic releases like “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” (1986) and “Nightfall” (1987). With their crushing riffs and dramatic vocals, they redefined the metal scene worldwide. The band’s journey has been led by bassist and founder Leif Edling, who reunited with vocalist Johan Längqvist in 2018, 32 years after Längqvist’s debut on “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”.
“Sweet Evil Sun” marked the band’s return after “The Door to Doom” (2019), which followed a turbulent period. Vocalist Robert Lowe left just before the release of “Psalms for the Dead“, and Mats Levén took over until Längqvist’s return. Notably, “The Door to Doom” earned Candlemass a Grammy nomination for “Astorolus – The Great Octopus,” featuring a guest appearance from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
