While Heaven Wept – Fear of Infinity (2011)

Continuing their aural assaults from “Vast Oceans Lacrymose”, While Heaven Wepts is back with another multi-faceted release that takes a little time to sink. However, once you get into the groove of this new release, it will surely win a place in your heart. Now on a bigger label, the band is ready to take their act on the road and take a shot at world domination.

“Fear of Infinity” has a familiar sound to “Vast Oceans Larymose” since the songs in this album were intended to be on said release. The first song “Hour of Reprisal” continues with the lush keyboard/vocal combination, but once you start getting comfortable this track explodes into an almost Black Metal-esque ending that will rattle your seat. While this sounds a bit out of place at first… you will grow to enjoy it.

“Destroyer of Solace” is the next attack, and the song starts a bit like more traditional Heavy/Epic Doom releases go. The chorus section is nice and enjoyable, but with the song clocking at 2 minutes and 40 seconds, we are left with desire for something a bit longer.  The melancholy finally catches up with the tracks “Obsessions Now Effigies” and “Unplenitude”, here is where the epic and emotive While Heaven Wept that we all know and love fully returns.

“To Grieve Forever” is a lush ballad that embodies all the emotions behind this release, creating a very effective keyboard atmosphere. The vocals are great and full of life, making this song of our favorites of this release. “Saturn and Sacrifice” again has that desolate Doom Metal feeling to it and it will surely appeal fans of the genre more than the rest of the songs. Up until now, the band has showcased their great abilities at their instruments and the overall atmosphere in the release reeks of traditional While Heaven Wept.

Closing the album we have the 11-minute epic (and the only song over 10 minutes in this release) “Finality”. This track is surely going to make it into the band’s top 10 hits of all times. Pairing excellent vocal melodies, weeping guitars and the overall dramatics of songs like “Thus with a Kiss I Die”, the band has managed to craft another brilliant classic. At this moment on our first listen of the album, we were concerned that we will not get another anthem out of this release, but this song delivers majestically on this department.

As we all know, WHW is a brilliant band that has musicians of the best caliber. All songs are perfectly crafted and are packed of emotions, and this is what draws us to bands like this. Besides the great musicianship and song writing abilities of the band, their way of channeling emotions through music is simply brilliant and regardless of the genre (or mixture of genres) they play, the will always be revered as one of the best North American Metal bands.

Release: May 3rd, 2011

Country: USA