Description
Pain is the major album debut (following two indie EPs) by the American alternative rock band Veil of Ashes fronted by Sean Doty (November 28, 1964 – September 26, 2021), released on Graceland in 1989, a division of Frontline, distributed by The Benson Company. (Veil of Ashes would take their name from a frase in “Pearls Before Swine”, a song written by Michael Roe and featured on The 77’s third album released in 1987.) The album was produced and recorded by Adam Again‘s Gene Eugene at The Mixing Lab in Garden Grove, California; with additional technical assistance by Dave Jahnsen and The Choir‘s Steve Hindalong. The cover of Bob Dylan‘s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” features background vocals by Hindalong and Derri Daugherty of The Choir fame.
This one has been long time coming for those of us who watch the Christian new music underground and saw the promise in Veil of Ashes’ custom cassette, ‘Negro’ (meaning “black” in Spanish). With titles like that and ‘Pain’, it would be wise not to expect a light, up-tempo effort, but the major label debut on Frontline’s Graceland label for this San Francisco quartet is a far from negative experience.
From the band’s rather inspired cover of Bob Dylan‘s «The Times They Are A-Changin’», Veil offers aggressive guitar-based songs that take on the changing times and issues, from racism to depression, love and faith. As Steve Scott once sang to us concerning life: “It’s not a pretty picture/ don’t turn away.” On ‘Pain’, Veil of Ashes, with producer Gene Eugene, look at life with eyes wide open.
While Sean Doty’s lyrics can at times feel melodramatic or excessively dour, they are balanced by the music’s energy and vitality, and the seriousness of the situations he addresses. Strong rhythms (by bassist Sterling and drummer Phil Meads) and fine, emotive guitar playing by Lance Harris convey depth and feeling beyond much of what passes for rock ‘n’ roll in today’s market. Veil of Ashes arrives packed with promise and portent. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, August 1989]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/pain/390580495)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Times They Are A Changin'”
A2. “And They Call It Love”
A3. “Without Eyes”
A4. “Corpse”
A5. “Suicide”
A6. “She”
Side Two
B1. “Take My Hand”
B2. “Testimony”
B3. “The Cross Was His Own”
B4. “Hide Me”
B5. “Come Unto Me”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Graceland.
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