Candlemass Release “The Omega Circle,” First Recording with Original Vocalist Johan Längquist Since 1986

“The Omega Circle” is the first Candlemass song in over THIRTY YEARS to feature the voice of original singer Johan Längquist, who left the band after their 1986 debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus. That’s fucking crazy, and has to be unprecedented in the metal world; what other famous bands have had members return after such an extended hiatus? Especially when those members haven’t done much of note musically in the interim?

I won’t pretend to be a Candlemass expert, but I think Längquist sounds great here. What do bigger Candlemass fans than I think — is this the return you’ve been waiting for (akin to a Syd Barrett reunion with Pink Floyd), or was Thomas Vikström your man?

Candlemass will release The Door to Doom on February 22nd via Napalm Records; pre-order here. The album track “Astorolus – The Great Octopus” features a cameo by Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.