''Lament for the Weary'' is

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band

Seventh Angel Seventh Angel are an English Christian metal band that formed in 1987 in Halesowen, West Midlands. The band was known for its combination of doom metal and thrash metal. The band initially released two albums, ''The Torment'' (1990) and '' La ...

's second studio album, released in 1992 on

Music for Nations Music For Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. It was a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG and later Sony Music Entertainment. Launched in 1 ...

. The album saw the band incorporating

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

elements to thrash. The album garnered generous reviews from British music press at the time.

Recording history

The album was recorded during 4–16 July 1991 at ICC Studios with producer Roy Rowland. The album was mixed during 1–10 August 1991. The cover art was done by British fantasy artist

Rodney Matthews Rodney Matthews (born 6 July 1945) is a British illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science-fiction. Career Trained at the West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Graphics before turning ...

. On the album, the style changed to a more progressive and atmospheric combination of doom metal and thrash. The guitars were tuned down to D, and the compositions include acoustic passages such as on the title track, driven with a samples of raining to create a melancholic atmosphere. The drummer Tank's musicianship is more varied compared to that on ''

The Torment ''The Torment'' is the debut studio album by the British Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel, released on Music for Nations in 1990. The album established the band as "one of England's leading thrash metal bands" by ''The Daily Telegraph'' ...

'' (1990). The album begins with a mid-tempo instrumental. The tempo increases as "Life in All Its Emptiness" begins. Arkley plays curbed yet intimidating solos and melodies on technical rhythm guitar riffs. ''Lament for the Weary'' is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

about a man who suffered abuse during childhood and struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts in adulthood. On his deathbed, he gets his childhood faith back and is not afraid to die anymore.

Reception

Lynn Williams of UK magazine ''

Cross Rhythms Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It operates an FM and online radio station, produces radio shows sent internationally, and its website has resources about contemporary Christian music. Hi ...

'' wrote in an issue published on 1 July 1992 that ''Lament for the Weary'' is a clear improvement over ''The Torment'' and called ''Lament'' "superior thrash". In a 2005 review of the album's re-issue, The Whipping Post's Matt Morrow states that ''Lament for the Weary'' belongs to one of the very best albums of heavy metal music in general and that the album is "a classic in every sense of the word"."Seventh Angel – Lament for the Weary"
Morrow, Matt. ''The Whipping Post''. 2005. In the 2005 re-issue edition's liner notes, Nick Bolton writes that "the guitar work led one reviewer to declare that the album contains some of the best guitar solos he had ever heard". After the release the band played concerts in Germany and the Netherlands.

Track listing

: live version appears on ''Heed the Warning: Live & Demo Recordings'' (2005) : appears on the ''Demo Collection'' (2017)

Personnel

Seventh Angel * Ian Arkley – vocals, lead and acoustic guitars *Scott A. Rawson – rhythm and acoustic guitars *Andrew "Tank" Thompson – drums *Simon Brynmawr Jones – bass guitar Production *Roy M. Rowland – producer, engineer, mixer *Steve "The Rock" Rispin – assistant mixing engineer Additional personnel *

– artwork *Bob Underhill – photography *

and Roy M. Rowland – arrangements *Nick Capewell and Wayne Jukes – road crew

References

External links

Album
at Metal Archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Lament for the Weary Seventh Angel albums 1992 albums Concept albums Albums with cover art by Rodney Matthews