Mats Levén

Mats Levén
Background information
Born (1964-09-11) 11 September 1964 (age 60)
Mölndal, Gothenburg, Sweden
GenresHeavy metal, hard rock, doom metal
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1986–present
LabelsNapalm Records
Websitematsleven.com

Mats Levén (born 11 September 1964) is a Swedish singer. Some of his most notable collaborations have been with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Candlemass.[1] In 2011, due to family issues on the part of Firewind's lead singer Apollo, Levén was called in to substitute for the rest of their European tour.[2] He also started touring with Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2016. In 2019, he released his first solo album under the name Skyblood.[1] In 2022, he became a member of Vandenberg which is led by the well known guitarist, Adrian Vandenberg.

Discography

Levén (left) performing with Therion in 2004

Bands/projects/guest vocals

  • Swedish Erotica – Swedish Erotica (1989)
  • Treat – Treat (1992)
  • Abstrakt Algebra – Abstrakt Algebra (1995)
  • AB/CD – Cut the Crap (1995)
  • Yngwie Malmsteen – Facing the Animal (1997)
  • Southpaw – Southpaw (1998)
  • Yngwie Malmsteen – Double Live! (1998)
  • Treat – Muscle in Motion (1999 – bootleg)
  • Pontus Norgren – Damage Done (2000)
  • Dogface – Unleashed (2000)
  • Dogface – In Control (2002)
  • Krux – Krux (2002)
  • At Vance – The Evil in You (2003)
  • Sabbtail – Nightchurch (2004)
  • Therion – Lemuria / Sirius B (2004)
  • At Vance – Chained (2005)
  • Swedish Erotica – Too Daze Gone (2005)
  • Fatal Force – Fatal Force (2006)
  • Krux – II (2006)
  • Abstrakt Algebra – II (unfinished recording from 1997 – released 2006 as Bonus CD with the re-release of Candlemass album Dactylis Glomerata)
  • Therion – Gothic Kabbalah (2007)
  • Amaseffer – Slaves for Life (2008)
  • Radiance – The Burning Sun[3]
  • Krux – He Who Sleeps Amongst the Stars (2012)
  • Opera Diabolicus – 1614 (2012)
  • Ludor – 777 – The New 666 (2013)
  • Everdome – Afterbirth (2013)
  • Dogface – Back on the Streets (2013)
  • Naski Corelo – The One (2014)
  • Ludor – Black X-Mas (2014)
  • Hollow Haze – Memories of an Ancient Time (2013)
  • Candlemass – Death Thy Lover (EP) (2016)
  • Revertigo – Revertigo (2018)[4]
  • Candlemass – House of Doom (EP) (2018)
  • Skyblood – Skyblood (2019)
  • Vandenberg - Sin (2023)

Other guest vocals/tributes

  • Various artists – A Salute to AC/DC (1999 – with AB/CD on Riff Raff)
  • Various artists – Power from the North (1999 – vocals with Southpaw on Disciples of Hell)
  • Various artists – The Spirit of the Black Rose (2001 – vocals with Dogface on Suicide)
  • Various artists – Bajen Forever (2001 – vocals with AB/CD on Victory)
  • Various artists – Blackmore's Castle (2003 – vocals with Torben Enevoldsen on Space Truckin')
  • Svullo – För fet för ett omslag (2003 – vocals on 2 songs)
  • Leif Edling – The Black Heart of Candlemass (2003 – vocals on 6 Abstrakt Algebra demos including White Heat Red Hot)
  • Various Artists – The Sweet According to Sweden (2004 – vocals on Sweet Fanny Adams)
  • Audiovision – The Calling (2005 – lead and backing vocals)
  • The Bear Quartet – Eternity Now (2006 – vocals on 2 songs)
  • Essence of Sorrow – Reflections of the Obscure (2007 – vocals on 5 songs)
  • Nuclear Blast Allstars – Into the Light (2007 – vocals on Death Is Alive)
  • Jupiter Society – First Contact // Last Warning (2008 – vocals & guitar on Cold, Rigid and Remote, vocals & drums on Solitude Unites Us, drums on 8511, vocals on Presumed Dying)
  • Crucified Barbara – Til Death Do Us Party (2009 – vocals on Jennyfer and backing vocals)
  • Crash the System – The Crowning (2009)
  • Jupiter Society – Terraform (2009 – vocals on New Universe, Into the Dark, Siren's Song/Black Hole; guitar on Cranial Implant)
  • Wisdom – Judas (2011 – vocals on Judas[5])
  • Snowy Shaw – Snowy Shaw Is Alive! (2011 – vocals on To Mega Therion)
  • Cem Köksal – Vigilante Episode One (2011 – vocals on Awakened One, Don Quixote, Stalkers in the Night)
  • CrownLess – Dark Evolution (2011 – vocals on Thorns[6])
  • Assignment – Inside of the Machine (2012)[7]
  • Nubian Rose – Mountain (2012 – vocals on Close My Eyes Forever and backing vocals)
  • Jupiter Society – From Endangered to Extinct (2013 – vocals on Invasion, No Survivors, Defeat)
  • Gus G – I Am the Fire (2014 – vocals on My Will Be Done, End of the Line, Blame It on Me, Eyes Wide Open)[8]
  • Dawn of Destiny – Forgotten, Enslaved, Admired, Released (2014)
  • Full Nothing – Full Nothing (2015)
  • Gus G – Brand New Revolution (2015 – vocals on Come Hell or High Water, If It Ends Today, The Demon Inside)[8]
  • Evil Masquerade – The Outcast Hall of Fame (2016 – vocals on Darkness (I Need You), On No Way to Broadway)
  • Full Nothing – Somewhere and Nowhere (2018)

Backing vocals

  • Lion's Share – Lion's Share (1995)
  • Conny Bloom's Titanic Truth – Titanic Truth (1996)
  • Lion's Share – Two (1997)
  • Vildsvin – Iskallt begär (1997)
  • Zifa – The Last Dog (1997)
  • John Norum – Slipped into Tomorrow (1999)
  • Various Artists – A Tribute to Grand Funk Railroad (2000 – backing vocals on Upsetter)
  • Jessica Folcker – Dino (2000)
  • Alfonzetti – Ready (2000)
  • Little Chris – At Last... (2002)
  • Adam Thompson – Reconnected (2004)
  • Gypsy Rose – Gypsy Rose (2005)
  • Narnia – Enter the Gate (2006)
  • Shineth – 11 of 10 (2006)
  • Lion's Share – Emotional Coma (2007)
  • Apocalyptica – Worlds Collide (2007)
  • Malison Rogue – Malison Rogue (2011)
  • Crazy Lixx – Crazy Lixx (2014)
  • Nubian Rose – Mental Revolution (2014)
  • HammerFall – (r)Evolution (2014)
  • HammerFall – Built To Last (2016)
  • HammerFall – Dominion (2019)

DVDs/videos

Tours

  • Treat – 1992 German tour
  • Therion – Lemurina/Sirius B Wold Tour 2004/2005 and Gothic Kabbalah European Tour 2007
  • Adagio – 2010 European tour[9]
  • Cem Köksal – 2011 Turkey tour
  • Firewind – 2011 EU tour[2]
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra – 2016, 2017, 2018 US tour

Producer

  • Malison Rogue – Malison Rogue (2011)[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Blabbermouth (20 September 2019). "Former CANDLEMASS Singer MATS LEVÉN To Release SKYBLOOD Debut In November". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Century Media Records – Firewind: : Taps singer Mats Leven for European tour starting next week!". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  3. ^ Radiance.fi
  4. ^ "ReVertigo Album".
  5. ^ "Wisdom – Judas (feat. Mats Levén)". 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2019 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "CrownLess.- Thorns [Dark Evolution] guest vocalist Mats Levén". 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Former Therion, Jaded Heart, Angel Dust Singers Guest On Third Assignment Album". Blabbermouth. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Gus G. Official website". Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Adagio Taps former Yngwie/Therion singer Mats Levén for Kamelot tour". Blabbermouth. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Malison Rogue signs with Inner Wound Recordings". Blabbermouth. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mats Levén.