“They wanted us to do a gig with Messiah and I wish him the best”: Candlemass’ Johan Längqvist discusses new EP and other 40th anniversary treats with Chaoszine

Candlemass, the Swedish forefathers of epic doom, celebrate their 40th anniversary of pioneering the genre with a four-track EP, “Black Star”, set for release on May 9, 2025 via Napalm Records. On “Black Star”, the band unveils two brand-new songs alongside two cover versions of timeless classics. The band is also about to release a documentary covering their history, which is in the works at the moment.

The EP’s title track, “Black Star”, blends haunting melodies with deeply introspective lyrics, brought to life by the dark, romantic voice of vocalist Johan Längqvist. Songwriter Leif Edling’s lyrics delve into themes of existential struggle, temptation, and the allure of darkness — creating an intense atmosphere imbued with the band’s signature sound. The second original track,“Corridors Of Chaos”, is a true old school instrumental containing both classic metal riffing and stunning guitar playing by Lars Johansson, showcasing the band’s mastery of dynamics. The EP also brings covers of Black Sabbath’s iconic “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, followed by Pentagram’s classic “Forever My Queen”, further cementing Candlemass’ remarkable contribution to shaping the genre into what it is today.

Chaoszine had the opportunity of talking to vocalist Johan Längqvist about the new realease, in an interview during which he spoke of the band’s songwriting process and style. He spoke of how “old school” the band’s sound has become once Längqvist himself has rejoined the band, and their love for that sonority (not only because the band members themselves have reached their 60s). The band’s influences were also covered – since they themselves are true originals and influence many other bands.

The current state of affairs with new technologies and distribution of music was also discussed: the singer recounted how an early recording of an EP with 4 songs cost them a lot of money back in the 80s, but now, with much simpler equipment and the right software, anyone could record their own music. Also, how the social media side of things has nothing to do with music itself, but has become important for reaching fans.

Chaoszine also asked Längqvist about Candelmass‘ one-off show featuring the return of singer Messiah Marcolin, to take place at the Rock Hard Festival in Athens, Greece, in September 2025.

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