Chilean Vocalist Felipe Plaza Kutzbach Steps in for Candlemass on Australian Tour

Swedish doom metal pioneers Candlemass have enlisted Chilean vocalist Felipe Plaza Kutzbach to anchor their live performances across Australia. Kutzbach, who currently resides in Sweden, stepped in to cover the duties of longtime frontman Johan Längqvist, who was forced to withdraw from the tour following a medical emergency in Stockholm.

The four-date tour commenced in Melbourne on September 29 before concluding in Perth on October 3. Kutzbach is no stranger to the Candlemass camp; he previously took the stage with the band on September 12 at the London Metalfest. That appearance also saw guests Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and Tony Dolan of Venom Inc. provide backing vocals for the final two tracks of the set.

Felipe Plaza Kutzbach fills in for long-time singer Johan Längqvist during a tour of Australia.

Kutzbach brings a pedigree of diverse projects to the role, including stints with Procession, Deströyer 666, and Scald. While the band has navigated various vocalists over the decades—ranging from the legendary Messiah Marcolin to Mats Levén—Längqvist has been the primary voice since 2018. This recent tour comes on the heels of the band's May 2025 EP, Black Star, via Napalm Records.

Despite the necessary substitution, the doom metal stalwarts continue to uphold their reputation as architects of the genre. While Längqvist's solo project, Johan Langquist The Castle, released a self-titled debut in June 2025, the Australian dates ensured the Candlemass machine kept rolling with Kutzbach at the helm.