''Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium'' is the first EP by

death-doom Death-doom is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double kick drumming of death metal. The genre emerged in the late-1980s and gained ...

band

My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford. Since their inception in 1990, they have released 13 studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. Alo ...

. "Symphonaire" was made only a few months after signing to the

Peaceville Records Peaceville Records is a British independent heavy metal record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw (of the bands Instigators and Civilised Society) in Dewsbury, England in 1987, who was also a one-time drummer of Sore Thro ...

label. The song was also released as a

vinyl record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts near ...

and an

audio tape An audio tape recorder, also known as a tape deck, tape player or tape machine or simply a tape recorder, is a sound recording and reproduction device that records and plays back sounds usually using magnetic tape for storage. In its present- ...

. The artwork was designed and created by

Dave McKean David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculp ...

, who also designed some of the band's other sleeves including "

As the Flower Withers ''As the Flower Withers'' is the debut studio album by Yorkshire-based doom metal band My Dying Bride. The artwork was designed by Dave McKean. This is the only full-length My Dying Bride album on which lead vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe utilizes h ...

". The EP was the band's first release as a 5-piece, following the introduction of bassist Adrian Jackson. The title track was originally recorded for the band's first demo, "Towards the Sinister". This version can be found on the compilation album " Meisterwerk 1". "God Is Alone" was originally recorded as a single that also includes "De Sade Soliloquay". These versions have not been re-released since their original appearance. The EP was also released as part of the limited box-set, "The Stories", alongside the band's other singles, "

The Thrash of Naked Limbs ''The Thrash of Naked Limbs'' is the second EP by death/doom metal band My Dying Bride. This EP was also released as a vinyl record. By this time, the band was a 6-piece, having added session violinist and keyboardist Martin Powell as an off ...

" and "

I Am the Bloody Earth My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford. Since their inception in 1990, they have released 13 studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. Alo ...

". All three were released on one disc on the compilation "

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the ...

" in 1995. The song's video, available on " For Darkest Eyes" features bizarre imagery and slow-motion footage of the band members walking through the wilderness. The video version of the song is the edited version that appears as "Act 1" on the vinyl release of the EP. "Act 2" is the section of the songs which begins at 5:15 in the full-length version. Live versions of the title track are available on "

The Voice of the Wretched ''The Voice of the Wretched'' is a live album by My Dying Bride, recorded in Tilburg, the Netherlands on the 4 March 2001. Original pressings of the album had tracks 2 and 4 listed in the wrong order, and "Turn Loose The Swans" was spelled "TRUN ...

" and in the bonus features of the DVD version of " For Darkest Eyes".

Track listing

CD

# "Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium" – 11:39 # "God Is Alone" – 4:51 # "De Sade Soliloquay" – 3:42

Vinyl

# "Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium Act 1" # "Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium Act 2"

Audio tape

# "Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium" – 11:39 # "God Is Alone" – 4:51 # "De Sade Soliloquay" – 3:42

Personnel

Aaron Stainthorpe Aaron Stainthorpe (born 12 November 1968) is an English singer who is the lead vocalist for doom metal band My Dying Bride. In December 2005, it was announced that Stainthorpe would lend his voice and some lyrics to a song with Sarah Jezebel D ...

- vocals *

Andrew Craighan Andrew Craighan (born 18 July 1970) is one of My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford. Since their inception in 1990, they have released 13 studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four com ...

- guitar * Calvin Robertshaw - guitar * Adrian Jackson - bass * Rick Miah - drums

Additional personnel

Martin Powell Martin Powell is an English musician. In 1991, Powell auditioned for the position of bass player in the band My Dying Bride, but was turned down as the band had just filled the position. Upon informing the band he was also a violin and keyboar ...

- session violin *

- album artwork

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Symphonaire Infernus Et Spera Empyrium 1992 debut EPs Albums with cover art by Dave McKean My Dying Bride EPs