Only one week left before the release of their upcoming album “Psalms For The Dead”, CANDLEMASS have announced that they have parted company with their singer Robert Lowe, who has been with the band since 2006.
About the new lineup, the band states:
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, 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 is also joining Candlemass onstage for the live shows.
This is the sixth time the band has been switching singers. Their past singers include Johan Längqvist (who sang on their seminal 1986 debut “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus“), Messiah Marcolin (who sang in CANDLEMASS from 1987 to 1991 and again from 2002 to 2006), Thomas Vikström (who replaced Messiah in 1991 and remained with CANDLEMASS until their first breakup in 1994) and Björn Flodkvist (who joined the band’s reunion in 1997 and remained with them until 2001).
[…] Singer Mats Levén recently released a statement to Blabbermouth confirming that he’s not joining CANDLEMASS as a permanent replacement for Robert Lowe, who left the band last Saturday. […]