"You can't have a rock star attitude in Candlemass!"

Leif Edling - founder, songwriter and bass player of Sweden's doom metal godfathers Candlemass - welcomes the quintet's new vocalist Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus), explains the departure of his predecessor Messiah Marcolin, and presents the band's ninth studio album, "King of the Grey Islands", due to be released on June 22 via the German label Nuclear Blast.

Vassil Varbanov: Hey, Leif, how are you?

Leif Edling: I'm very good, thank you very much!

V. V.: Two years ago, when you released your self-titled album, you were very excited to have vocalist Messiah Marcolin back. Now he's not with you... Are you still that excited?

L. E.: Yes, I am, because we've got a new album out soon, and people who've heard it so far seem to like it very much. Besides, we've got a new great singer called Robert Lowe. We are rid of the old problems in Candlemass - at least it seems so - and I'm very excited, as we're starting a new chapter for the band.

V. V.: Is Robert still singing with his original band, the Texas-based doomsters Solitude Aeturnus, or he's already a full-time member of Candlemass?

L. E.: He's still a member of Solitude Aeturnus, but also a full-time part of Candlemass. You know, his old group is not very active - they don't do records every year and don't tour very much - so it's not a problem for us. I think both bands will benefit from having Robert and his fantastic voice on board.

V. V.: Is there any bitterness inside your heart because of the fact that Messiah is not with you anymore?

L. E.: I can say that I really was very enthusiastic about our previous album, because it's great, we sold a lot of records, toured and became even more popular. However, we had many problems with Messiah due to his personality - its not very easy to deal with him and have him in a band, you know. We had constant arguments and it was very, very difficult. Now, when we have Robert, we have a much better atmosphere in Candlemass - we can talk to each other and discuss things, while Messiah refused to do this, as he doesn't like democracy. We like to have fun in the band and be friends, but it wasn't possible with him, as he wanted everything to be done his way, and if he couldn't have it he just said, "Fuck off!" You can't have such a rock star attitude in Candlemass. Now the atmosphere in the band is finally better.

V. V.: Let's concentrate on your new album now. What is "King of the Grey Islands" all about? Where are the grey islands?

L. E.: The grey islands are within yourself. That's the place where you go to when you're sad, hurt or depressed - a little place where you lock yourself in when you need to. Nobody can touch you there. I think we all are kings of grey islands sometimes... The album is about what happens when you let these negative feelings take over too much, and every song on this record is about an emotion - sadness, depression, devastation, desperation, anxiety, anger, hatred... A lot of dark feelings that can even make you want to commit suicide - that's the concept.

V. V.: Shall Robert be singing these songs with you on tour this summer, or he'll be working with Solitude Aeturnus?

L. E.: Oh, yes - we'll be doing a lot of festivals, and Robert will come over prior to them. We'll rehearse, then he'll go back to the States for a few weeks, and then we'll do the rest of our summer schedule. Then he'll go back again for a month, afterwards return for our tour in September... You see, Robert is very supportive and he's got no problem with travelling. I think we can make the logistics work.

V. V.: What do you think shall happen if Robert lets you down? Shall this mean that you'll disband Candlemass or you'll keep on working?

L. E.: We're pretty sure that Robert will be with us for another album, because he's very enthusiastic about being a member of the band. He's a very cool guy, and he really is a fan of Candlemass, so I'm pretty sure we can make this work. I don't think we need a plan B or C or whatever. Besides, there's no question in my mind that we will not record a new Candlemass album next year.

V. V.: Ok, which of the tracks offВ "King of the Grey Islands" should we play on the radio now?

L. E.: Well, I really like the first one, "Emperor of the Void", because it's got a nice groove and I love its chorus - it's so powerful and epic! It's one of the best choruses I've written, and the track itself is a good opener for a show, so we even might open with this one when we go out on tour.

Copyright: Tangra Mega Rock