Lament for the Weary

Description

Lament for the Weary is the sophomore full-length studio album by the British thrash metal band Seventh Angel, released in the UK on Under One Flag in 1991, a sub-label of Music For Nations. Also released in the US on StarSong Records. The album was produced, recorded (July 4-16, 1991), and mixed (August 1-10, 1991) by Roy M. Rowland at ICC Studios in Eastbourne, England.

Seventh Angel features Ian Arkley on vocals as well as lead and rhythm guitar, Scott A. Rawson on rhythm guitar, Simon Brynmawr on bass, and Tank (a.k.a. Andrew Thompson) on drums.

Anyone taking a glance at the song titles on this impressively packaged second helping from Seventh Angel would be forgiven for thinking it was an album laden with doom and gloom… not so! Upon closer inspection you will find a cleverly themed journey through the life of someone shown from his early beginnings of abuse and depression, through to his meeting with Jesus and subsequent salvation until finally he ends his years at the age of eighty. Musically, this album is very much the Seventh Angel we know and love, although lan’s vocals have progressed considerably with experience. Tank’s drumming is, as ever, impeccable, providing the background to frame some expressive solos and deep, chunky playing on the part of the guitarists. Personally, I am not keen on full band instrumentals, so it is a shame that this album starts with one of nearly three minutes. Look out, though, for the title track, a classic piece of instrumental acoustic work. Destined to be a favourite, «Woken By Silence» firmly brings salvation into the picture. It rises from placid beginnings to become fast and solid before returning unexpectedly to an acoustic ending. The distinctive «Dark Shadows» has a memorable chorus, the words positively bitten out. Also check out the unusual reversed ending to «Secure In Eternity». Superior thrash. [Lynn Williams, Cross Rhythms, July 1992]

CD tracklist:

01. Recollections Of A Life Once Lived – 2:53
02. Life In All Its Emptiness – 5:13
03. No Longer A Child – 5:55
04. Full Of Blackness – 6:02
05. Lament For The Weary – 2:19
06. Woken By Silence – 6:18
07. Falling Away From Reality – 4:54
08. Dark Shadows – 5:33
09. Passing Of Years – 4:14
10. Secure In Eternity – 6:06
11. Farewell To Human Cries – 6:10

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD. A remastered Limited Edition version was re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records ‎in 2005 limited to 1000 copies, distributed by Brutal Planet Distribution. A remastered version was also re-issued on CD by Metal Mind Productions ‎‎in 2008. Re-issued once again on both CD and vinyl by Retroactive Records in 2018 as a part of their Legends Remastered series.

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