While Heaven Wept (often abbreviated as WHW) was an American

epic 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'' ...

band based in

Dale City, Virginia Dale City is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince William County, Virginia, United States, located south west of Washington, D.C. It is an annex of Woodbridge, Virginia. As of 2020, the total population was 72,088. The community is roug ...

. The primary writer and overall engine of the band was mainman Tom Phillips. Their melodic, classically influenced style could be compared to bands such as

Solitude Aeturnus Solitude Aeturnus is an American epic doom metalSantos, José Carlos (2012). "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus". In ''Terrorizer (magazine), Terrorizer''s ''Secret History of Doom Metal'', pp. 60-62, band from Arlington, Texas. Founded by guitarist ...

and

Solstice A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly sun path, excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries ...

(the latter of which Tom Phillips is a former member); however, 2003's acclaimed '' Of Empires Forlorn'' saw the band branching out into a variety of metal and progressive styles. This trend continues on their 2009 album, '' Vast Oceans Lachrymose'', and on their 2011 album, '' Fear of Infinity''. While Heaven Wept's lyrics have dealt with sorrowful matters, namely personal loss and despondency.

Members

Current

* Tom Phillips (ex-Solstice, ex- Twisted Tower Dire, ex-Brave) - vocals, guitars, keyboards * Jim Hunter ( Twisted Tower Dire, October 31, Revelation) - bass * Scott Loose (Brave, Human Theory) - guitars * Trevor Schrotz (Brave) - drums * Michelle Schrotz (Brave) - keyboards, vocals * Rain Irving (Altura) - vocals * Jason Lingle (Altura) - keyboards, vocals

Guests

Mark Zonder Warlord is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1980 and based in Los Angeles, California. Since its formation the band was led by guitarist William J Tsamis and drummer Mark Zonder. History Early years Warlord is the brainchild of guit ...

(

Warlord Warlords are individuals who exercise military, Economy, economic, and Politics, political control over a region, often one State collapse, without a strong central or national government, typically through informal control over Militia, local ...

, ex-

Fates Warning Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman. There have been numerous lineup ch ...

) - drums on "Suspended At Aphelion" * Victor Arduini (ex-

) - lead guitar on "Suspended At Aphelion" * Christopher Ladd - classical guitar on "Suspended At Aphelion" * Mark Shuping - cello and violin on "Suspended At Aphelion" * Mickey Rey Diaz - vocals live at ROAM, November 10, 2018

Former

* Jason Gray (ex-Forty Days Longing) - drums * Angelo Tringali (

Slough Feg Slough Feg (also known as The Lord Weird Slough Feg) is an American heavy metal band from Pennsylvania, formed in 1990 and currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking their name from the Celtic folklore-influenced comic book Sláine, ...

) - guitars (live) * Fred Provoost (ex-Whispering Gallery) - keyboards (live) * Jon Paquin - drums * Scott Waldrop (Twisted Tower Dire) - guitars * Jim Murad (ex-Twisted Tower Dire) - bass * Wiley Wells (Novembers Doom, Those Are They) - keyboards * Danny Ingerson (ex-

Dysrhythmia (band) Dysrhythmia is an American instrumental progressive metal band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1998. The band's music combines avant-garde elements of progressive rock and jazz with heavy metal. They are currently loc ...

) - bass *

Kevin Hufnagel Kevin Hufnagel is an American musician, based in NYC. He is known for his solo guitar works, for forming the progressive instrumental rock/metal band Dysrhythmia, and for being a member of Gorguts, Vaura, Sabbath Assembly, Veldune, and Byla. ...

(

Gorguts Gorguts is a Canadian death metal band formed near Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1989. The band has gone through various membership changes since its inception; its only constant member has been guitarist-vocalist and co-founding member Luc Lemay, wh ...

) - guitar * Gabe Funston - bass * Phil Bloxam - (ex-Hellion - DC underground metal band) - drums * Jake Bodnar - keyboards * Kenny Thomas - guitars, vocals * "Diamond" Dave - bass * James Whorton - drums * Jason Stone - bass * David Bornhauser - guitars * Tony Garcia - guitars * Chad Peevy - bass * Brendan "Ber" Galvan - vocals * Chris Galvan - guitars * Jim Chappell - drums

Discography

* ''Into the Wells of Sorrow'' 7-inch - Open Eye Records (1994) * ''Lovesongs of the Forsaken'' - Promo (1994) * ''Lovesongs of the Forsaken'' EP - Sinistrari Records (1995) * ''The Mourning'' split 7-inch with Cold Mourning, Game Two Records 1997 * '' Sorrow of the Angels'' -

Eibon Records Eibon Records is an independent record label from Milan, Italy, founded in 1996. It is owned by Mauro Berchi and primarily focuses on very fringe underground music, noise/ambient and doom metal (the former especially). It is also home to Berchi's ...

(1998) * ''Chapter One: 1989-1999'' 2x LP Retrospective - Metal Supremacy Records (2002) * ''The Drowning Years'' 7-inch Single - Maniacal Records (2002) * '' Of Empires Forlorn'' -

(2003 Limited Edition), Rage of Achilles Records (2003), Rock Machine Records (2005 South American Pressing) * '' Vast Oceans Lachrymose'' - Cruz Del Sur Music (2009) * ''Vessel'' 7-inch Single - High Roller Records / Maniacal (2010) * '' Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence'' - Cruz Del Sur Music (2010) * '' The Arcane Unearthed'' 2x LP Retrospective - High Roller Records (2011) * '' Fear of Infinity'' -

Nuclear Blast Records Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...

(2011) * '' Suspended at Aphelion'' -

(2014)

Compilation appearances

* ''Scenecubator'' (features "The Mourning") - Open Eye Records (1994) * ''Nightshade Vol.1'' (features "Sorrow Of The Angels") - Private Release by Scott DeFusco (Curse Of The Chains 'zine) (1995) * ''Funeral Aspects'' (features "Sorrow Of The Angels") - Private Release by Patrick Walker (Warning) (1995) * ''Time Brings Only Sadness'' (features "Sorrow Of The Angels") - Private Release by Oliver Richling (1995) * ''At the Mountains of Madness'' (features "Into the Wells of Sorrow") - Miskatonic Foundation (1999) * ''Knuckletracks XLV'' (features "The Drowning Years") -

Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles ''Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles'' (''BW&BK'') is a Canadian heavy metal website and former magazine. Although based in Toronto, Canada, ''BW&BK'' features writers from the US, Germany and the UK, allowing the magazine to represent metal music f ...

Magazine (2002) * ''Terrorized V25'' (features "The Drowning Years") - Terrorizer Magazine #115 (2003) * ''Obskure Sombre Records Doom Fuzz Compilation 2003'' (features "The Drowning Years" single version) - Obskure Sombre Records (2003) * ''Dark Moon Vol.1 - A Tribute To The Black Spirit'' (features "Destroyer Of Solace") - More Music and Media GmbH (2011) * ''ProgPower USA XII DVD'' (features "Of Empires Forlorn" and "Voice In The Wind") - ProgPower USA (2012)

References

External links

While Heaven Wept Official Page

Cruz Del Sur Music

Eibon Records

Of Empires Forlorn Review
{{Authority control American doom metal musical groups American progressive metal musical groups American progressive rock groups American symphonic rock groups Heavy metal musical groups from Virginia Musical groups established in 1989 Nuclear Blast artists People from Dale City, Virginia