Abstrakt Algebra

Having watched the career of his longtime group, the legendary Candlemass, crumble before him, chief songwriter and bassist Leif Edling sought solace in a new project he named Abstrakt Algebra. Enlisting singer Mats Leven (formerly of Yngwie Malmsteen's band), guitarists Mike Wead (King Diamond, Hexenhaus), Simon Johansson (Fifth Reason, Memory Garden), and drummer Jejo Perkovic to assist him, Edling looked to turn over a new 'leif' (get it?) -- abandoning the slothful doom he'd long been associated with to embrace a faster and quite technical power metal style. The results, heard on the band's 1995's eponymous release were interesting, but not enough to keep Edling from giving Candlemass another shot a few years later, and taking drummer Perkovic with him as well.