Johan Langquist, singer of the Doom Metal pioneers Candlemass, has created his own solo-entity in the form of Johan Langquist The Castle. The same-titled debut album will be released in physical formats (CD and vinyl) by I Hate Records on June 27, 2025. It was initially released digitally without a label in 2024.
Johan has worked with a wide range of Swedish musicians and the debut album evokes the magic feeling of classic ’70s and ’80s Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and Doom Metal. The album brings in mind elements from Black Sabbath (Ronnie James Dio and Tony Martin era), early Rainbow, Dio, and Candlemass. This is not to be seen as a studio project, since a full line-up will soon take shape, and both live shows and a second album are being worked on.
Johan Langquist started with the Swedish metal band Johan Quizz, which released demo tapes in 1980 and 1982, and later their material was re-released by Stormspell Records in 2009, and Cult Metal Classics in 2020, including more material. He joined Candlemass as a session vocalist for the recording of the classic debut album Epicus Doomicus Metallicus in 1986. Johan performed live with Candlemass at some special shows in 2011, and finally joined as a full member in 2018, recording with them the albums The Door to Doom (2019) and Sweet Evil Sun (2022), the live albums Green Valley (2021) and Tritonus Nights (2024), The Pendulum EP (2020), and just now, their new Black Star EP (2025). Johan Langquist is also the singer of the pop band, Impulsia.
Johan Langquist The Castle tracklist:
1. Eye Of Death
2. Castle Of My Dreams
3. Where Are The Heroes
4. Raw Energy
5. Revolution
6. Freedom
7. Bird Of Sadness
Line-up:
Johan Langquist – Vocals
Erik Henriksson – Guitar / Keys (Session)
Fredrik Isaksson – Bass
Stafen Englin – Drums
Emelie Lindquist – Soprano / Backing Vocals
