Candlebox Frontman Kevin Martin Talks Everything Wolves

With the release of their self-titled debut album in 1993, Candlebox leaped onto the charts with a meteoric rise to the top. The record spawned four hit singles with “Far Behind” and “You” garnering the band radio airplay and a huge fan base. It would go on to be certified quadruple platinum firmly cementing the band’s place in the hard rock universe. Lucy, certified gold, and Happy Pills followed but due to a conflict with their record company, the band went on hiatus in 2000. Luckily they regrouped in 2006 a few years older and a few years wiser and went on to release three more albums.

Tomorrow, Candlebox will officially release its seventh studio album Wolves via Pavement Entertainment. With brutal riffs, honest lyrics, and distinctive melodies, the new album is a perfect statement on where the band is at right now. If you’re expecting a redo of their debut album with Wolves, you won’t find it. What you will find instead, is a band that is unafraid of exploring new directions and new sounds. The songs are allowed to take shape themselves without the pressures of putting a signature “Candlebox” sound to them. Just as people grow and change so does their music and if you embrace this change, I believe you will find a lot to be excited about.

The first official single “All Down Hill From Here” was co-written with Blind Melon guitarist Christopher Thorn and has a great, hard-driving riff and is relatable on all levels. We’ve all been to a point in our lives where it seems the best has already happened and yet, like Candlebox, we go on to achieve things that may have never been possible earlier in our lives. Things take on a bluesy vibe with “Let Me Down Easy,” a writing collaboration with Peter Cornell while “My Weakness” is a perfect pop-rock diversion, something to sing along with as you cruise down the open highway with the top down. “Riptide” is a beautiful mid-tempo piano piece and you don’t want to miss my personal favorite “Trip.” I’m not going to say much about that song except it is fantastic in every way and you should do yourself a favor by giving it a listen. Go ahead. I’ll wait…So? What did I tell you? Pretty great right? Wolves is definitely not the Candlebox of 1993 but it is the Candlebox of today and if you truly can listen to it, unbiased by your past opinions one way or another, I think you’ll be pretty amazed at what you hear. The record drops tomorrow on CD, vinyl, and all digital platforms so be sure and get yours here!

In addition to the new album, Candlebox is in the midst of its US fall tour which runs through early November, culminating in their hometown of Seattle for shows on the 5th and 6th which will feature the band’s original lineup. This is a tour you will want to see when it rolls through your town.

Shutter 16 had the pleasure of chatting with Kevin about everything Candlebox-related including the inside scoop on Wolves.