Review Summary: The Doom That Came To Earth.
Before transitioning to a more power metal oriented progressive doom sound, While Heaven Wept used to play a "candles and red wine" style of mournful doom metal akin to England's trio of melancholy mongrels. If Warning's Watching From A Distance" makes you want to weep passionately by the ocean's edge then do yourself a favor and snag a copy of Sorrow of the Angels asap. Proceed to upload it to your iphone and walk outside during a full moon and begin to cry feverishly. Your neighbors will think you've lost your damn mind. In reality you are just overcome with raw emotion. Raw emotion from the inside that is being awakened by one of the most maddeningly beautiful albums ever created. It's alright boys. Let it out. Let it all out.
Sorrow of the Angels is the debut album of While Heaven Wept. Released in 1998, the core members of this group were in their teens when they wrote and dropped this "hot as a Charizard fire blast" record. It's impressive given the hefty staying power of this record. You can feel their youthfulness in the mournful, lovelorn atmosphere of the music but the dynamic musicianship and captivating songwriting of Sorrows make this band sound like they're a bunch of veterans who've been dooming and brooding for centuries in old decrepit European castles. The music is soul-crushingly heavy from start to finish. For these hauntingly sexy four tracks and thirty nine minutes you are enveloped by misery and pain, but also beauty and love. If you've ever found and lost love or drove down a one-way-street in the name of romance then please put this record on and emote accordingly. Don't be a idiot and do something repugnant. Just let Sorrow of the Angels play and give yourself completely to the music. Get naked. Emotionally. Dance in the dark. Drink some wine and be glad you can feel raw human emotion.
Sorrows is truly beautiful because it excels on every level. There are heavy doom riffs along with acoustic guitar. There are keyboards and organ. There are nature sound samples. There are impassioned clean vocals that convey the true pain and emotion of being a human being. And the bass. IT'S ALIVEEEEE! All of these instruments work together to create a compelling listen that will strike the very fabric of your soul. Heavy sections intersperse with acoustic interludes and organ dirges to create a atmosphere that can only be described as The Crow-ian. Doom metal lovers will enjoy this. Romantics will enjoy this. I have no more words.
