Candlemass followers had been handled to a world-exclusive reunion in Athens on September 13, when the Swedish doom legends took the stage at Rock Hard Festival Greece with their iconic former vocalist Messiah Marcolin. It was Marcolin’s first look with the band in practically 20 years — and it didn’t disappoint.
Chatting with Rock Hard Greece editor Sakis Fragos after the present, Marcolin was effusive: “That was some improbable present with Candlemass on the Rock Arduous Pageant Greece. I wanna thank all of the followers from all world wide who traveled from 40 totally different nations — large, large thanks from the center. And in addition all of the Greek followers, who traveled all throughout Greece to return there. It was, like — I do not know — 4,500 individuals [going] loopy and everybody was singing and it was a lot enjoyable — singing, screaming, doom dancing, simply the best way it needs to be. So I am very pleased about it. And an enormous thanks.”
Requested the way it felt to be again on stage with Candlemass after virtually 20 years, Marcolin stated: “It felt prefer it was yesterday [that we had last played together]. It was 20 years [earlier], nevertheless it felt like yesterday. It was the identical factor once we did… I used to be with Candlemass from 1987 until 1991. Then I stop the band the primary time. After which we did a reunion once more in 2002, and I stop once more in 2006. So in whole I have been with them for eight years, however these, I believe, I assume 12 years in between, it felt like time hadn’t handed. Once we begin enjoying, it is simply, like — I do not know — it is magic. Some bands, they’ve that after they play collectively; there’s one thing particular that comes with it. And Candlemass all the time had that.”
The singer recalled their very first gig collectively in Jönköping again in 1987: “It was our very first live performance, and we begin the present with ‘Crystal Ball’ and rapidly punk rockers and everybody begins leaping on the stage, getting loopy. There’s one thing particular about when the 5 of us play collectively. In order that’s very cool. It is all the time been like that. It simply works. I do not know the way to describe it. It simply works. It really works rather well. Off stage is one other factor.”
Marcolin laughed off any suggestion of nerves earlier than his return to the Candlemass stage. “No, I do not get nervous. In fact, you get a bit excited earlier than the present, however I do not get nervous. I am extra excited. I wish to kill. [Laughs] I do not wish to kill, however I really feel like I wanna kill. You wish to do the most effective. Then, after all, your physique would not act the identical means as 20 years in the past. I fell on my ass. What are you gonna do? The steadiness shouldn’t be the identical. All I can do is apply tai chi or one thing and attempt to get a greater steadiness.”
He in contrast the reunion with Candlemass to a macabre household reunion straight out of a gothic sitcom: “With me and Candlemass, it is just like the household Addams. If Uncle Fester goes away for 20 years after which he comes again and he is all bizarre — that is what it was like.”
The frontman revealed he spent months making ready for the present: “Folks would say to me, ‘Oh, good luck in Athens, good luck.’ And I stated, ‘No, there isn’t any luck. It is arduous work.’ I might been training singing for nearly day by day for 5 months. So all of it comes all the way down to dedication and arduous work, ‘trigger you want that.
“‘Trigger if you fall on the stage, like I did, or some technical factor, you may’t hear your self or no matter, then you definitely want the muscle reminiscence. So that you have to be ready. And in addition I am lazy. I do not sing on a regular basis. I solely sing when I’ve to. However I actually obtained in form for this one gig — 5 months, that is plenty of work. Nevertheless it was all value it ultimately as a result of the followers obtained an excellent present. And it was actually enjoyable.”
And whereas the Athens present was billed as a one-off, Marcolin hinted there may very well be extra: “I by no means stated that is the one one present we’re gonna do — Leif [Edling, Candlemass bassist and main songwriter] stated that.
“However I might inform all of the promoters of the world, get in touch with Candlemass‘s supervisor, Mr. Olé Bang, and attempt to e book Candlemass that includes Messiah Marcolin, as a result of I simply assume it is such a disgrace for all of the Candlemass followers on this planet not to have the ability to see [us play], those who could not be there [in Greece]. That is how I really feel. I do not understand how they really feel. They’re most likely uninterested in me already, however I simply assume it could be nice.”
He added: “If they’ll deal with us as effectively, these promoters and the large festivals in Europe and all world wide, in Japan — I do not know — all over the place, if they’ll deal with us in addition to Rock Arduous Pageant Greece did, I see no drawback with enjoying any extra reveals. ‘Trigger we’re all getting outdated, and I am the youngest — I am 57. I will all the time be the youngest. However anyway, what I am saying is I do not see a purpose for it to not occur once more. For me, it is type of just like the classic Candlemass.”
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