Without a doubt, Mats Leven is one of the most influential and illustrious names in Swedish metal. His distinctive and colorful voice has graced albums by Candlemass, Therion, Krux, Yngwie Malmsteen and At Vance – and now, after lending his vocals to others for decades, fans can finally experience the charismatic singer’s solo album!
Under the solo flag of SKYBLOOD, the self-titled debut album will see the light of day this Friday, November 22, 2019 via Napalm Records. Mats Leven has been working on his solo project for several years, and aside from some additional guest musicians, most instruments were recorded by Leven at his own studio – the Uzi G Studio – in Stockholm. Skyblood‘s debut contains dark and hypnotic anthems that take the listener on exotic trips into emotional soundspheres, triumphing in musical finesse and timeless elegance. Skyblood is an unchained and exciting affair feeding off of epic, classic metal, doom and melodic hard rock influences – an unpredictable mixture soaring to glorious heights!
Only a few days ahead of its official album release, Mats Leven has unleashed a third single – the epic track Out Of The Hollow. Says the metal icon: “It’s about someone realizing it’s time to move on. Even if it means having to face the dark unknown.”
Listen to Skyblood‘s brand new song Out Of The Hollow right HERE!
Album Tracklist:
1. Skyblood Manifesto
2. The Voice
3. The Not Forgotten
4. Wake Up to the Truth
5. Once Invisible
6. One Eye For An Eye
7. Out of the Hollow
8. For or Against
9. Le Venimeux
Earlier this year, Skyblood released two haunting videos to The Voice ( watch it HERE! ) as well as The Not Forgotten ( watch HERE! ). Available on Vinyl, CD and in Digital formats November 22 via Napalm Records, this album is a MUST-HAVE that belongs in every well-sorted classic, heavy and doom metal record collection, and is available to purchase at THIS LOCATION!
New location, new line-up, new formula but still the same metal feast! Metalmania Opener Air 2020 will happen on August, 29th in Warsaw (Summer Stage at Progresja Club)! Mayhem, Candlemass and At The Gates are the first bands confirmed for Metalmania Open Air 2020! Tickets are on sale NOW!
Mayhem – they have been present on the metal stage for 35 years, and their first album, “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” (1994) is considered by many to be one of the most important black metal records. This Norwegian band released so far five full-lenght albums. Their brand new album “Daemon” is scheduled for release on October, 25th.
Candlemass – their name may be a synonymous for epic metal doom. This Swedish group was founded in 1984 and so far released 12 studio albums. Their last, phenomenal “The Door to Doom” album was released in February this year and was a great return after a seven-year break. On this record the band was joined by their’s first vocalist, Johan Längqvist.
At The Gates – the precursors of melodic death metal will perform in Poland as part of the tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of the album “Slaughter of the Soul”. It’s their most successful album, considered by the critics and fans as the greatest work in their discography. US’ Decibel Magazine described it as “the most influential death metal album of the upcoming the decade.”
The last edition of Metalmania Festival took place on April, 7th 2018 in Spodek Hall in Katowice, with Emperor, Napalm Death, Asphyx or Destroyer 666 among the bill.
METALMANIA OPEN AIR 2020
MAYHEM
CANDLEMASS
AT THE GATES (“Slaughter of the Soul” 25th Anniversary Set)
+ more TBA
29.08.20 – Warszawa, Summer Stage at Progresja Club
Gates open: 12.00
Start: 13.00
The long-awaited debut solo single from CANDLEMASS/ SPIRITUAL BEGGARS/ OPETH /KAMCHATKA man, Per Wiberg, is released. The single is taken from Per’s upcoming solo album ‘Head Without Eyes’, coming out on May 10th via Despotz Records.
The multi-talented Swede has been working on his upcoming solo debut ‘Head Without Eyes’ for some time now, and “Get Your Boots On” is the swaggering first track to be released. Stream it below:
“Get Your Boots On turned into more of a traditional rock song than what was originally intended but I’m really happy with how it came out. It’s a catchy song, shorter than the rest but I’d like to think it gives the whole album more dynamics and a good balance between the dark, doomy and more adventurous stuff on there. I already had the words so this was the only song where the music was written after the lyrics. I was aiming for a Killing Joke/Hawkwind vibe on the drums for this one and Lars Sköld (Tiamat) gave the song some great energy that shines through Jonas Kjellgrens attentive mix. Enjoy!” – Per Wiberg
The term heavy can be applied to many different music genres and in many different contexts. Swedish musician Per Wiberg, has made a living out of playing most things heavy the last 30+ years. A multi-instrumentalist who has played keys, bass and guitars with a number of bands and artists like Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Candlemass as well as Clutch/Bakerton Group, Switchblade and Kamchatka to name but a few…
Head Without Eyes is the result of an urge to constantly move forward artistically. Combine this, with a lifetime of music addiction and record collecting and you’ll get an amalgam of catchy hooks and memorable melodies layered on top of trippy sounds exploring the more experimental sides of rock music. Impossible to categorize but let’s paint the scene. Imagine, if you will, having afternoon tea with Killing Joke and Van Der Graaf Generator, followed by a smokeout in the company of Hawkwind and Young Gods, while later being invited for a night cap with Talk Talk and Swans. Are you with us? There’s a dense doomy, sometimes dissonant vibe to the songs and together with the melodic parts it creates an interesting sense of dynamics. This is underlined by the surreal landscapes portrayed by the sometimes sinister lyrics.
”The challenge for me and something that I really wanted, was to keep things within the so called ‘pop format’ with a verse and a chorus part, also on the longer songs. The majority of the music I’ve played in my life has been based on guitar riffs. But with this, I wanted to focus on moods and let the lyrics set the tone. Kind of a singer songwriter vibe but instead of using the traditional Americana backdrop I worked with using field recordings and noisy parts in the songs, as well as some quirky arrangement ideas to give it more of a cinematic feel. I’ve always liked the yin & yangs in music, to have a very defined melody on top of something atonal or dissonant. It creates a lot of tension and in this case it’s the thread that runs through the album. This shaped the lyrics as well, as they all deal with the fear of leaving, or the fear of being left in different contexts. Little stories with a nihilistic tone…”
Per handles all instruments and vocals with the exception of drums which are played by Karl Daniel Lidén (Crippled Black Phoenix, Katatonia, Switchblade, Karl who also mixed 3 songs) and Lars Sköld (Tiamat, Avatarium). Billie Lindahl (Promise And The Monster) lends her ethereal voice to ‘Anywhere The Blood Flows’ & ‘Pile Of Nothing’.
”Asking Karl Daniel Lidén to mix the 3 songs he plays drums on was an easy choice as we share a lot of common ground when it comes to influences and sound references. Drums for the other 3 songs were recorded at Black Lounge Studios by Jonas Kjellgren and it was natural that he’d mix those tracks. Both guys are good company, very creative and always manage to bring something extra to the table which made the whole mixing process seem effortless to me. All other instruments and vocals I recorded at my rehearsal space during 2016 – 2017”
With “Head Without Eyes”, Per has created a new platform to write and perform music that moves between discordant to harmonic; sparse to bombastic. Also when listening to these songs, one can’t help but notice how mature it sounds for being a debut album, but then again, if you mean what you play, you can never go wrong.
‘Head Without Eyes’ -track list
Let the Water take Me Home
Anywhere the Blood Flows
Pass on the Fear
Get Your Boots On
Pile of Nothing / Fader
CANDLEMASS have come full circle: Their first singer Johan Langquist (who left the band after singing on the legendary 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus) has returned!
They are set to release their 12th full length album The Door To Doom February 22nd via Napalm Records.
Now CANDLEMASS have dropped the second song from the album featuring legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi. Watch the video for “Astorolus – The Great Octopus” right here:
Leif Edling states: “Here’s the video for Astorolus. Monsters and Gods come in different shapes. The eternal wheel of birth and death portrayed in a cool video and great song. Talking about gods, the master himself, Tony Iommi is playing the solo here (part 1+2 out of 3). Immense feeling, wonderful tome, so much presence! Just incredible! Hats off to him for helping us out. A dream coming true! Looking forward to play it live on the tour with Ghost. We’re rehearsing it right now. New stuff and the old classics. Can’t wait to go out on this tour. Johan is back singing, “The Door to Doom” is getting brilliant reviews, the band is in great form… Will be a blast “!
The Door To Doom unsurprisingly follows the plotline mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing. With Johan Langquist`s highly dramatic vocal style and the love for details, the band made this album to the next “Epicus”. This masterpiece is rounded off by a beautiful guest appearance by none other than Black Sabbath`s Tony Iommi on “Astorolus – The Great Octopus”.
Tony Iommi on his appearance: “Candlemass are a major force in Scandinavian heavy rock and have always acknowledged the influence we had on their music. They asked if I’d contribute to a track which sounded pretty good so I thought ‘why not’ “.
The Door to Doom Track Listing:
1 Splendor Demon Majesty
2 Under The Ocean
3 Astorolus – the Great Octopus
4 Bridge Of The Blind
5 Death´s Wheel
6 Black Trinity
7 House Of Doom
8 The Omega Circle
CANDLEMASS On Tour:
A Pale Tour Named Death – Candlemass special guest for Ghost:
03.02.19 FR – Lyon / Tony Garnier
05.02.19 NL – Amsterdam / AFAS Live
06.02.19 BE – Antwerp / Lotto
07.02.19 FR – Paris / Zenith
14.02.19 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle
15.02.19 DE – Bochum / Ruhrkongress
17.02.19 DE – Hannover / Swiss Life Hall
18.02.19 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
20.02.19 SE – Gothenburg / Scandinavium
21.02.19 NO – Oslo / Spektrum
23.02.19 SE – Stockholm / Ericsson Globe
Festivals:
13.04.19 BE – Durby / Durbuy Rock Festival
27.04.19 DE – Könighofen / Keep it True Festival
29.04.19 SE – Helsinki-Stockholm / Silja Cruise
11.05.19 DK – Copenhagen / Nordic Noise Festival
07.06.19 SE – Sölvesborg / SwedenRock
21.06.19 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting
22.06.19 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
05.07.19 ES – Barcelona / Rockfest Barcelona
13.07.19 DE – Balingen / Bang Your Head Festival
02.08.19 RO – Rasnov / Rockfest Extreme
07.08.19 ES – Villena / Leyendas Del Rock
08.08.19 PL – Vagos / Vagos Metal Fest
CANDLEMASS have come full circle: their first singer Johan Langquist (who left the band after singing on the legendary 1986 debut EPICUS DOOMICUS METALLICUS) has returned! They are set to release their 12th full length album The Door to Doom February 22nd via Napalm Records. CANDLEMASS have dropped the first song from the album entitled “The Omega Circle”. Listen to it here:
The Door To Doomunsurprisingly follows the plotline mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing. With Johan Langquist`s highly dramatic vocal style and the love for details, the band made this album to the next “Epicus”. This masterpiece is rounded off by a beautiful guest appearance by none other than BLACK SABBATH`s Tony Iommi on “Astorolus – The Great Octopus.”
CANDLEMASS have come full circle: their first singer Johan Langquist (who left the band after singing on the legendary 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus) has returned!
Now, the epic doom metal veterans announce their 12th full length album The Door To Doom!
The Door To Doom unsurprisingly follows the plotline mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing. With Johan Langquist`s highly dramatic vocal style and the love for details, the band made this album to the next “Epicus”. This masterpiece is rounded off by a beautiful guest appearance by none other than Black Sabbath`s Tony Iommi on ‘Astorolus – The Great Octopus‘.
Tony Iommi on his appearance: “Candlemass are a major force in Scandinavian heavy rock and have always acknowledged the influence we had on their music. They asked if I’d contribute to a track which sounded pretty good so I thought ‘why not’ “.
Leif Edling states: “We feel very honoured that Tony Iommi said yes to play the solo on ASTOROLUS. The song was sent to the management and amazingly enough, the master agreed to let his mighty SG sing on the track! For me personally this is a dream come true. Tony Iommi has always been my hero and guiding light when it comes to heavy music, so to hear that he likes the song and also would like to play on it, gave me chills down the spine! I’m still in shock! But kudos to him to be so cool to even listen to it. Hats off! Tony Iommi is and will always be God!”
The Door to Doom tracklisting:
1 Splendor Demon Majesty
2 Under The Ocean
3 Astorolus – the Great Octopus
4 Bridge Of The Blind
5 Death´s Wheel
6 Black Trinity
7 House Of Doom
8 The Omega Circle