Candlemass is a Swedish epic doom metal band from Upplands Väsby, outside Stockholm, founded in 1984 by bassist and chief songwriter Leif Edling. Their 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus gave the entire epic doom subgenre its name, and the band is widely counted among the "big four of doom metal" alongside Pentagram, Saint Vitus and Trouble. Over thirteen studio albums they have shaped generations of heavy metal musicians, and Sweden Rock magazine ranked them the greatest Swedish hard rock/metal band of all time in 2013.
Leif Edling announced that Candlemass will begin writing material for a new studio album, planned for recording in 2027 and release in 2027 or early 2028.
Candlemass reunited with former vocalist Messiah Marcolin for the first time in nineteen years at the Rock Hard Festival in Athens, Greece on 13 September 2025.
Candlemass released the four-track jubilee EP Black Star via Napalm Records on 9 May 2025, marking the band's 40th anniversary.
The band announced the Black Star EP in October 2024 while recording at Sound Trade studios in Solna, with the release framed as a 40-year anniversary celebration.
Candlemass toured Japan in January 2024, their third visit to the country, performing at Club Quattro in Tokyo.
