Customer Reviews

Vast Oceans Lachrymose

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I only recently became a big fan of doom metal (special thanks to metalcrypt.com and metal-archives.com), and I've got to say, I think that While Heaven Wept have (or at least, should) become the new band to carry the flag of doom metal into battle. They are all expert songwriters and musicians who craft truly huge, epic, and beautiful music.

This band has become sort of an underground legend over time. I actually never would have found this band if it weren't for sites like metalcrypt.com and metal-archives.com, and I'm incredibly grateful for it.

This band does call themselves doom metal, but on this CD, you won't find much atypical doom material aside from the lyrics, which are as to be expected, mournful and depressed. However, soundwise, they have found an incredible balance between triumphant and sorrowful, sounding very solemn and proud. This is graceful, majestic music that oozes class and passion.

It surprises me that this band has existed for so long, put out so few full-length albums, and has still gone unnoticed! This is really incredible music that focuses more on the epic aspect of doom than the depressing musical route so many bands take. I must say, it's a refreshing change of pace, one which has caught my attention. Since I got the CD, I haven't been able to listen to anything else. The Furthest Shore is now definitely in my Top 5 Epics, keeping a beautiful balance of crushing doom riffage and beautiful, melodic passages. However, Vessel is my favorite song on the album, and definitely one of, if not the best, song(s) ever written, with a head-bangable main riff and a gorgeous chorus that will stick in your head until you die.

Before I bought the CD, I did listen to some more of their material, and I can say that one of the biggest differences between this and their older albums is the change of vocalists. In their back catalog, guitarist Thomas Phillips doubled as the singer, and he was phenomenal, but it really shows that their new singer, Rain Irving, is completely preoccupied with singing. You can tell he's giving his undivided attention and energy to crafting beautiful vocal melodies that are sung with passion and melodicism not seen in many singers today.

Overall, the band has achieved a better balance between instruments, creating truly beautiful music in the process. I'd recommend this to anyone who listens to REAL music.

I have to start off by saying, I don't give 5 stars easily. With that said, credit is due where credit is due. While Heaven Wept is a band that's been around for two decades, but only have a handful of releases. The majority of those releases fall under the category of "doom" metal, but not so much so with their latest, Vast Oceans Lachrymose. It seems the band has blended the perfect formula of "doom", power and melody to form a very "epic" sound. There is a healthy amount of double bass, crunchy guitar riffs, tempo changes and yes, doom riffs. That's all topped off with a very tactful usage of keyboards. Overall, if you're a fan of power, progressive or doom metal, you should dig this release. There's a healthy balance of all elements here to create one of the best metal releases of 2009. What a way to close out the year!

This was my #1 metal album of 2009...exceptional in every single way. If you like metal don't miss this.

I had no prior experience with While Heaven Wept & having read many glowing reviews I took a shot at this album & I am very glad I did. I don't really know many bands that sound quite like this although I am sure there are many....they have alot of progressive tendencies to them (opening track is an aggressive guitar based killer & also 16+ minutes!) Some power metal stylings in the singing, traditional metal based guitar playing & really dreamy sounding keyboard parts that compliment the entire aura of what is going on. Very moody in style would be a fair assessment of the album as a whole.
I am not sure that this album would be the same without the outstanding keyboard work & backing vocals of Michelle Schrotz. She adds more dimension to the chorus' & the overall feel of the songs. Not to shortchange any of the other players here, the drumming, bass playing & guitar playing are all tastefully done. The band just works as a unit so well. Not trying to overplay the songs with too many notes, the songs are mid paced often with speedier sections thrown in to make momentum changes & make the songs more interesting with very nice melodic leads at various times in each song. I also really happen to love the fact that all the singing is clean, not gruff at all & certainly without any high pitched wailing from the 80's. I think that the singer, Rain Irving, sounds most like Niklas Isfeldt from Dream Evil in his delivery & tone. Without a doubt I will continue into this bands catalog of music. If I had to make any changes to the album, I don't care for the fact they ended to 2 instrumentals to close. Both are very nice sounding but one may have been placed elsewhere....a minor quibble. Favorite cuts would have to be the opening song, The Furthest Shore & Vessel. Nice job !

This album is the new benchmark for modern metal. Its progressive, doomy in parts and crushes in others. The lengthy songs tend to make for sufficient space to allow the musicianship and songwriting to shine through not to mention the exceptional vocals. The vocalist also sets a new standard for "clean" vocals. (to be honest the other type is just silly growling, barking and Cookie Monster impressions). This guy kills it with high notes sustained with minimal effort and minimal use of vibrato. A departure from the Dickinson Halford Tate style. This is also a concept album of sorts and the vein of storytelling forms the basis for wonderful passsages that roll and ebb with the tides, and chrashes and thrashes on the rocks. Its apocalyptic message is very doom without copying Sabbath or cheaply fuzzing out the guitars. Perfect album in every way. Will be seeing them live.