While Heaven Wept - Fear of Infinity

November 4, 2011

. . .

Grandeur, majesty, and beauty: all desirable traits in music, but also difficult to achieve. Virginia’s While Heaven Wept succeed where other melodic doom bands fail, at least in the “sweeping majesty” stakes, thanks to elaborate chords and Rain Irving’s tenor vocals.

While Heaven Wept have always consistently delivered. They have been recording and releasing material on a regular basis since 1994, aside from during a six-year hiatus between 2003-2009. Their newest release, Fear of Infinity, their first record for German label Nuclear Blast, is a fine addition to the band’s body of work. Aside from its majestic qualities, the album features stripped-down guitar structures, which, to While Heaven Wept’s credit, sit well with their progressive rock leanings on this outing. A sense of space amplifies the album’s grandiose feel.

Despite being While Heaven Wept’s first release on a relatively commercial label, Fear of Infinity offers an approachable taste of the band’s fare, without selling out. The verses mostly steer clear of catchy repetition; guitar riffs lock into simple hooks, giving more room for the non-metal side of the music to come through. Low acoustic notes and piano synths are allowed more room to play, without crowding out the rest of the band’s sound. Although the album is more accessible than While Heaven Wept’s previous releases, it also gives truth to the adage that “less is more”. On Fear of Infinity, there is more space, more atmosphere, and more majesty, without overcomplicating the music.

— K. Ann Sulaiman

. . .

HEAR FEAR OF INFINITY

. . .