While Heaven Wept - Of Empires Forlorn (2003)

While Heaven Wept - Of Empires Forlorn album reviewed by Pritham 'metal farmer' D'Souza aka MorbidPitbull


Track List
1. The Drowning Years
2. Of Empires Forlorn
3. Voice in the Wind
4. Soulsadness
5. Epistle No. 81
6. Sorrow of the Angel
7. From Empires To Oceans

Members
Tom Phillips - Guitars, Vocals and Keyboards
Scott Loose - Guitars
Jason Gray - Drums
Jim Hunter - Bass

One of the oldest if not the oldest Doom band to emerge from Dale city, Virginia USA, these guys formed way back in 1989 under the name Dream Wytch and changed their name to the present one in 1991. They were mostly an underground band, but their fortunes were going to change with the release of their masterpiece, 2003's Of Empires Forlorn.
Their previous full length release was in 1998, the 4 song, 39 minute wonder Sorrow Of The Angels, but sadly the album didnt really get the credit it deserved.

Their earlier music was your typical doom style in the vein of Solitude Aeturnus with the only difference being a lot of growly style vocals being added to songs to give it that required 'depth'.

This album however has mostly Tom Phillips singing clean with very few passages that require him to demonstrate his death vocal growls.
The music on this is absoloutely flawless, epic doom metal from the word go. There are no short songs here, all of them being epic & majestic, are not the least boring. The heavy guitars with backing keyboards gives a symphonic feel to every song. For some reason, its safe to call this album Happy Doom, coz the melody is just addictive and natural. No flashy guitar playing here, just beautiful guitar harmonies.

its very difficult to pin point the best track here, as all of them are brilliantly executed. I especially liked their tribute to the legends of Doom Candlemass with their exceptional rendition of the latters classic Epistle No. 81. However my favorite track here is Voice in the Wind which makes the hair on the back of my shoulder stand up. Not because its scary or anything, but its just very moving. its like a perfect song. Slow, melodic & epic.

its should not come as a surprise that Vocalist Tom's talents are also seen in the UK doom metal band Solstice where he plays guitars. Even though he may not have the operatic range of Messiah marcolin (ex Candlemass) or the charisma of Rob Lowe (solitude aeturnus), he has a very unique vocal range that puts him between power metal vocalists and clean doom metal vocalists.

Another record of sorts would be the fact that since their formation in 1989 to this day 2009, they have had more than 60 musicians joining or leaving the band!!

You really cant rate this band or this album in particular 'doom' like the rest, it has that x factor to keep it towering over the rest. From the heavy riffs to the opening The Drowning Years to the classical tinged meloncholic instrumental at the end From Empires To Oceans this is one album u really cant afford to miss

My rating
10/10


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