Watch: CANDLEMASS Performs With Guest Singers At LONDON METALFEST Following JOHAN LÄNGQVIST's Hospitalization

CANDLEMASS singer Johan Längqvist (a.k.a. Johan Langquist) was forced to miss the Swedish doom metal legends' September 12 concert at the London Metalfest at the Electric Ballroom in London, England due to being hospitalized in his hometown of Stockholm after facing "a medical emergency" a couple of days earlier. The show went on without Längqvist, with Chilean vocalist Felipe Plaza Kutzbach (PROCESSION, DESTRÖYER 666, SCALD),who currently lives in Sweden, handling most of the lead vocals, and Aaron Stainthorpe (MY DYING BRIDE) and Tony Dolan (VENOM INC.) assisting for the final two songs of the set.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for last night's gig was as follows:

01. The Well Of Souls (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
02. Demon's Gate (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
03. At The Gallows End (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
04. Samarithan (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
05. Crystal Ball (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
06. Bewitched (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)
07. A Sorcerer's Pledge (with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach)

Encore:

08. Under The Oak (with Tony Dolan)
09. Solitude (with Aaron Stainthorpe) (also with Felipe Plaza Kutzbach and Tony Dolan)

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

When Johan's absence from the London Metalfest gig was first announced earlier on Saturday, CANDLEMASS said in a statement: "CANDLEMASS are deeply sorry to announce that Johan Längqvist unfortunately will not be able to perform tonight's show in London.

"After returning home to Stockholm from a successful show in Belgium last weekend, he faced a medical emergency on Thursday morning, and was rushed to the hospital. A comprehensive range of tests has been conducted, but at this time, doctors are still working to determine the cause of his illness, and require further testing, meaning he must remain in hospital care. We all wish Johan a speedy recovery and hope to have more clarity soon.

"As we don't wanna cancel the show tonight, we have a special guest vocalist performing 'Epicus [Doomicus Metallicus]' and 'Nightfall' songs — as well as a visit from a couple of celeb surprise guests, who'll be performing with us."

CANDLEMASS's latest EP, "Black Star", came out in May 2025 via Napalm Records.

Johan's solo project JOHAN LANGQUIST THE CASTLE released its self-titled debut album on CD and vinyl in June 2025 via I Hate Records. The record was initially made available digitally without a label in 2024.

In September 2025, CANDLEMASS reunited with its former vocalist Messiah Marcolin at the 2025 edition of the Rock Hard Festival Greece in Athens, Greece. It marked Marcolin's first performance with the band in nearly 20 years.

As the godfathers of epic doom metal, CANDLEMASS defined the genre with releases such as "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" (1986) and "Nightfall" (1987). Through their evil riffs, crushing rhythmic attack and dramatic vocals, they changed the landscape of metal worldwide. Led by bassist Leif Edling, CANDLEMASS reunited with Längqvist in 2018, 32 years after the singer performed on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus".

Längqvist originally exited CANDLEMASS after "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" and was replaced by Marcolin.

Marcolin left CANDLEMASS for the presumably final time in 2006, one year after the release of the band's self-titled album. He was later replaced by Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS),who sang on the band's "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007),"Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012) LPs. CANDLEMASS's frontman between 2012 and 2018 was Mats Levén, who previously recorded and toured with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and THERION. Eight years ago, CANDLEMASS fired Levén and rehired Längqvist.