Psalms For The Dead

Psalms For The Dead
Psalms For The Dead
	;
Studio album by Candlemass
Released	June 8 2012
Recorded	December 2011 at B.A.M. Studios in Stockholm, Sweden
Genre	Epic Doom Metal
Length	50:13
Label	Napalm Records
Producer	Leif Edling
Candlemass chronology

Psalms For The Dead is the eleventh studio album by the Swedish doom metal band Candlemass, released on 6 June 2012.^[1] The band's first album with Austrian label Napalm Records, Psalms For The Dead was originally intended to be the band's final album at the time of it's release,^[2]^[3] though ultimately the band would release a new album seven years later in The Door To Doom. However it would be notable as the last album with vocalist Robert Lowe, who left the band just six days before the album's release.^[4]

Background[]

Work would begin on the band's eleventh studio album following touring in support of Death Magic Doom. On 14 October 2011 it would be announced the band had signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records and announced that their eleventh album would be their last,^[5] though also stating that the band would still tour and perform live, opting not to "Start putting out half-lame albums".^[6] Pre-production demos would be made in October to which proper recording would begin in December.^[7] Further details, including the album cover and track listing would be unveiled in March.^[8]

Psalms For The Dead would see release on 8 June 2012 on CD and as a 2LP. A deluxe vinyl edition would feature two bonus songs from the same sessions, limited to 500 copies.^[9] Peaking at #58 on the German Albums Chart^[10] and #19 on the Swedish Album Charts,^[11] Psalms For The Dead would attain critical praise from several publications.^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]

Notably, vocalist Robert Lowe would be out of the band just six days before the album's release, citing the quality of the live performances for his outing.^[16] Lowe would speak about it years later, stating "They Decided To Drop The Best Vocalist They Ever Had".^[17] Lowe's final shows with the band would be at 70,000 Tons of Metal^[18] and SWR Barroselas Metalfest in Portugal.^[19] Lowe would not perform any songs from Psalms For The Dead live.

The same time Lowe's departure was announced, Mats Leven (Therion, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.) would be announced as the new singer.^[20] Leven's first show with the band would be the album's release party on 5 June 2012, performing six of the album's songs along with classics.^[21]^[22] Leven would go on to record a split single with Entombed and two EPs before his departure in 2018, with original singer Johan Längquist returning for the 2019 album The Door To Doom.

Tracklist[]

All songs written by Leif Edling.