Candlemass Bassist Talks New Album And Vocalist

Chad Bowar from About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with CANDLEMASS bassist Leif Edling. Here are some extracts from the conversation:

Chad Bowar: Are you looking forward to having the album ("King Of The Grey Islands") released and moving forward again?

Leif Edling: "Yes. We just want to get out there and play now. We haven't played for 18 months, and that's really what we want to do. That's what it is all about."

Chad Bowar: How far along with the album were you when you found out Messiah (Marcolin) was leaving?

Leif Edling: "The album was recorded last May, over a year ago. Messiah left in April last year. In October we hoped that he would still finish the album."

Chad Bowar: You searched the world for new vocalist.

Leif Edling: "We listened to over 80 singers. It was quite a big search. We listened to 30 guys from Sweden and about 50 guys from Europe and America. We took three months for the search before we got in touch with Robert (Lowe - SOLITUDE AETURNUS)."

Chad Bowar: What was it about Robert that attracted you to him?

Leif Edling: "We've always known about him and always liked his voice since the first SOLITUDE AETURNUS albums. We liked the fact that he has this classic Metal voice, but he's also very emotional in his style of singing. He was perfect for CANDLEMASS, and when we listened to the new album it was quite obvious that he might be the one. When he put his voice on the record and did the new songs, he really blew us away. When we listen to him on this record I think it's pretty obvious that he is the right choice."

Chad Bowar: Do you have any concerns about him being in another band at the same time?

Leif Edling: "No, not at all. We are in contact with SOLITUDE AETURNUS. I'm pretty sure we can solve anything. They are not super active right now. If they want to do an album next year, we can lay low while they do that. I don't think we will have a problem. It is a long way to Sweden from America, but Robert is willing to travel and he is really easy to work with."

Chad Bowar: The music on the new album seems heavier and more dynamic. Would you agree?

Leif Edling: "Yes, I guess so. It is a natural progression from the previous album and I think it's a little bit heavier. It's a little more complex, a little bit more gloomy, a little bit more Metal as well. I think there is more of everything on it. The previous one was a little more straightforward and this one is a little heavier and more complex."

Chad Bowar: What does the title "King Of The Grey Islands" signify?

Leif Edling: "The Grey Islands is a place where you go to when you are sad or hurt or really pissed off. It's the place where you lock yourself in when you don't want anybody to be able to reach you. That's the meaning behind it. The king of the Grey Islands is the fictional character. Every song on the album is about emotions, negative emotions, and the king of the Grey Islands represents all of these negative emotions. It eventually leads up to the character's suicide in the last song. It shows what all of these negative emotions can lead to if you let them take control."

Chad Bowar: You are playing European festivals this summer. Any chance of making it to the US for a tour later on?

Leif Edling: "Early next year I would say. We are pretty busy this summer and we're going to tour in Europe in the fall. We go to Australia in November in we have some gigs in December as well. We are talking about going to America, so hopefully somebody will give us an offer to come over and put a package together with CANDLEMASS and a couple of other bands. You need somebody to give you an invitation to come. If people in America like the album, if it gets good reviews and people buy the record, I'm pretty sure someone will make us an offer."