Leif Edling

Leif Edling
Edling in 2024
Background information
Born	(1963-08-06) 6 August 1963
Genres	Epic doom metal, doom metal, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument	Bass
Years active	1979–present

Leif Edling (born 6 August 1963) is a Swedish musician, best known as the bassist, main songwriter and one of the founding members of the doom metal band Candlemass. He is the only constant member of the band since its inception to the present day. Nevertheless, since the band's second reunion in 2002 Edling has been backed up again by founding rhythm guitarist Mats Björkman, who had been absent from 1997 to 2002.

Biography

Edling started his musical career in the band Trilogy, then under the name of Toxic, as a singer together with Ian Haugland (later the drummer of Europe) in 1979. He then played in a band named Witchcraft but left in 1981 and formed Nemesis in 1982. Before the Candlemass official releases, Edling also handled vocal duties in addition to playing bass.

After the departure of Messiah Marcolin, Candlemass became his solo project, until the band reformed in 2002. In 1994, when Candlemass fell apart, Leif had started the band Abstrakt Algebra with Mats Levén on vocals and Mike Wead on guitar. The band met with limited success and disbanded after one album.

In 2002, he founded another doom metal band, named Krux, also with Mats Levén on vocals, and in 2013 founded Avatarium with Marcus Jidell on guitar and Jidell's wife, Jennie-Ann Smith on vocals.

Since early 2014, Edling had been unable to tour with either Candlemass or Avatarium due to unspecified health problems, though believed to be chronic fatigue syndrome. A variety of replacement members were used, including Grave/Entombed bassist Jörgen Sandström and keyboard player Per Wiberg switching to bass. He has returned to performing with the band as of 2019.

Discography

Edling (left) with Candlemass in 2005

With Nemesis

• The Day of Retribution −1984

With Candlemass

• Epicus Doomicus Metallicus – 1986
• Nightfall – 1987
• Ancient Dreams – 1988
• Tales of Creation – 1989
• Live – 1990 (live)
• Chapter VI – 1992
• Dactylis Glomerata – 1998
• From the 13th Sun – 1999
• Doomed for Live – Reunion 2002 – 2003 (live double CD)
• Candlemass – 2005
• King of the Grey Islands – 2007
• 20 Year Anniversary Party – 2007 (DVD)
• Lucifer Rising – 2008 (EP)
• Death Magic Doom – 2009
• Psalms for the Dead – 2012
• Death Thy Lover – 2016 (EP)
• House of Doom – 2018 (EP)
• The Door to Doom – 2019
• The Pendulum – 2020 (EP)
• Sweet Evil Sun - 2022

With Abstrakt Algebra

• Abstrakt Algebra – 1994
• Abstrakt Algebra II – 2008

With Krux

• Krux – 2003
• II – 2006
• III – He Who Sleeps Amongst the Stars – 2011

With Avatarium

• Moonhorse – 2013 (12")
• Avatarium – 2013 (CD, double LP)
• All I Want – 2014 (12")
• The Girl with the Raven Mask – 2015 (CD, double LP)
• Hurricanes and Halos – 2017 (CD, double LP)
• The Fire I Long For (2019)
• Death, Where Is Your Sting (2022)

With The Doomsday Kingdom

• The Doomsday Kingdom – 2017

Solo

• Songs of Torment, Songs of Joy – 2008