Candlemass fires Robert Lowe

[KazolOrajia]

We are sorry to inform you that Robert Lowe is no longer the singer for CANDLEMASS. It has been a very difficult decision for the band and has mainly to do with the quality of the live performances.

For the upcoming shows, Robert will be replaced with Mats Levén [YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, TREAT, ADAGIO, AT VANCE, KRUX], longtime friend of the band. We are convinced this will work out just great.

The band is currently rehearsing new and old songs with Mats and we know that nobody attending the gigs at Debaser Slussen, Metaltown, Borås or Southern Discomfort will be disappointed.

Bring you earplugs….it will be hard, massive and loud!

Keyboard player Per Wiberg [OPETH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS] is also joining CANDLEMASS onstage for the live shows.

This really sucks. Robert Lowe was my favourite Candlemass singer, and the albums they did with him are some of their best. I'm completely unfamiliar with Mats Levén, so I have no idea whether or not he's a worthy replacement. Psalms For The Dead is supposed to be their last album though.

[KHH]

Levén is more of a generic 80-ties metal singer. Think Chapter VI-style. He does not get out of tune but lacks in personality. Some like him a lot though. Definitely another step away from Doom towards more standardish hard rock/metal.

[Charger]

This was a real shock to me when I first heard about it...

Well atleast the last ever album will still feature their best singer so that's good and I'll be getting that, but other than that I have now lost all interest in Candlemass and will not go see them on this tour if they come around here.

Rob sounded AWESOME live so I do not understand where this comes from...but I guess KHH might have something there then if they wanted to change their style more away from doom then I suppose it makes sense in a weird fucked up way....

Never heard of this Levin guy though...

[Totentanz]

Rob Lowe contributed greatly to making Candlemass dull.

Matts Leven has done a great variety of vocal work, not least with Therion and Krux. Krux is plenty doomy (given it's Edling's project), and Leven will improve Candlemass no end. He's got the ability to perform any era well. Shame they didn't get him in before doing the album, I might've considered buying it.

[Franklin]

Levén is more of a generic 80-ties metal singer. Think Chapter VI-style. He does not get out of tune but lacks in personality. Some like him a lot though. Definitely another step away from Doom towards more standardish hard rock/metal.

Rob Lowe contributed greatly to making Candlemass dull.

Matts Leven has done a great variety of vocal work, not least with Therion and Krux. Krux is plenty doomy (given it's Edling's project), and Leven will improve Candlemass no end. He's got the ability to perform any era well. Shame they didn't get him in before doing the album, I might've considered buying it.

Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I liked the albums Candlemass did with Robert Lowe. I suspect there is more to the firing than we're reading in the press release. I listened to Mats Leven on the Krux album and liked it. I especially like the song titled Krux.The bottom line is I'll buy the album for sure and possibly see the concert when/if they come to L.A.

[TYR66]

I prefer definitively more Mats Leven than Rob Lowe .
The first Krux album is really good and Leven has a great potential .

But this doesn' t mean the come back of Messiah Marcolin , sadly .

[sn0wb1ind0zzy]

Damn! Robert Lowe was a great singer for Candlemass.

[kamikazetom]

This is a big shock to me - I thought Robert did a great job on the Cd's & was very good live - I'm still curious to hear the new (and last) Cd with Robert now but this makes no sense to me firing Robert right before the Cd is released & the tour supporting it is to start

[KHH]

Psalms For The Dead is easily the best Edling/Lowe-album. It doesn't sound like (classic) Candlemass but still - a solid hard rock album with many really great parts.

[Totentanz]

Psalms For The Dead is easily the best Edling/Lowe-album. It doesn't sound like (classic) Candlemass but still - a solid hard rock album with many really great parts.

Last week I bought the remastered Dactylis Glomerata instead of the new album (featuring as a bonus the album Abstrakt Algebra II, vox by Mats Leven - info not for KHH, but for those who aren't familiar with him yet: the AAII album is what morphed into DG).

Anyway, despite my misgivings about the Lowe / Candlemass pairing, I think I should relent and give the new one a try. After all it would be a shame to be one album short of the complete set. And my problem is with the combo, I do recognise the positives of Lowe & Edling individually. Maybe I'll enjoy this one more, maybe not. But I'll at least give it a chance.

[justme1]

The new (last) album worth it for the song "Prophet" alone

No doubt the most Sabbath influenced band

[KHH]

Anyway, despite my misgivings about the Lowe / Candlemass pairing, I think I should relent and give the new one a try. After all it would be a shame to be one album short of the complete set. And my problem is with the combo, I do recognise the positives of Lowe & Edling individually. Maybe I'll enjoy this one more, maybe not. But I'll at least give it a chance.

Did you try it?
I did not enjoy the previous two Candlemass albums very much but this one is really, really good I think. There are a couple of songs that you hit "skip" on but some are great!

[Buffalo Bill Scruggs]

As long as they don't give the vocal spot to "Jackhammer Rider" Marcolin again, it's all good, and I will continue to listen with an open mind.

[KHH]

As long as they don't give the vocal spot to "Jackhammer Rider" Marcolin again, it's all good, and I will continue to listen with an open mind.

Without Marcolin they can never be true Candlemass again, not even with Langqvist. It just isn't the same. And his contributions to the songs are obvious when you hear the alternatives...

[Buffalo Bill Scruggs]

True Candlemass?

I can't take Marcolin-era Candlemass seriously at all. He abuses vibrato so much that it's just immensely unpleasant. Langqvist and Lowe I absolutely love. Marcolin, not a chance.

[TYR66]

Messiah Marcolin IS the true singer of Candlemass . definitively . Langqvist is also amazing on EDM .
But the No-MM era is not bad .

[Franklin]

Listening to the new album for the first time tonight but, so far, I love it.