Ok... I've noticed that my reviews are lacking in any real substance. so from now on... I'll give each album a review based upon my knowledge and musical experience. No more of the lame... same sounding reviews... I'll do better now.
First of the new litter. This album's cover is an odd break away from The Torment. While The Torment had a dark and strange scene of a city with big black scorpions and visions of plagues and stuff like that, this album cover just has a very fantasy styled walkway that curves around a tree, with an old warrior lying in Weary. A very good album cover for the album.
The first track is actually an instrumental that moves seamlessly into the second track. This entire album I noticed, seems to be more built of arpeggios and half 4/4, half 3/4 songs. There are a couple areas of 6/4 and one 6/3 but those stand out as "odd" areas and are just written off as cool. As far as musically, most of this album, while possibly structured better, is less technical instrument wise than The Torment. Lament for the Weary has some good material, don't get me wrong, but the instruments just aren't played as good as on The Torment in my opinion.
I find it interesting how over half of this album follows one chord structure. It's just a bunch of E5 going chug chug chug chug chug chug and then some off octaved notes in the E pentatonic scale. so you effectively get :
E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 F5
DFEC
E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 F5
BbCGE
etc.
It's less instrumental genius and struggles more on making an album that boggles the mind with timing. However, The Torment would have more parts with:
E5 E5 C5 B5 F5 DGEBCBF E5
notice the difference.
There are indeed some differences within both The Torment and Lament for the Weary, but for the most part Lament for the Weary just doesn't have the guitar and bass work that The Torment had.
Another musical noticeable difference, there's only really two songs with double bass in Lament for the Weary. Almost like tank forgot how to do it! The Torment had multiple areas with double bass, less bass snare bass snare and more bass bass bass snare double bass ..... snare. So the music would sound heavier on The Torment... and it does.
Other than this album simply not living up to my expectations of The Torment, it's great.
The album has some very dark feeling intros and then of course moves into the chuggas and off times. Sometimes this album almost reminds me of an exact replica of a metallica album, and then it moves into a more atmospheric sound. Then it becomes clear that they are not metallica as they do some really bad solos.
The number one item I would have to take out of this album would be the solos. I love solos. especially when a band is primarily blues based such as Seventh Angel and Vengeance Rising, however this album has some really bad solos. Some of which are just scales going down and skipping every other note. They really are that cheesy.
However, this album is really good. The lyrics are typical of Seventh Angel. Nothing new as far as style just more good lyrics about life as a christian.
Some favorite songs?
Lament for the Weary is a great instrumental song. No longer a child is great for lyrics and music, Life in all its emptiness is a great lyrical song but has somewhat weak music for the album, falling away from reality is ok. It's a bit melancholy. I think that Passing of Years and Farewell to Human Cries are two of my favorites. Those two along with Lament for the Weary and No Longer a Child are my favorite tracks off this sophomore release and last release from a great thrash band.
Overall I'd say this album along with The Torment should be included with all collections but again don't pay the $60-$80 for it. Find it for cheaper and get it now.
8/10
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Tom MacMillanSeventh Angel is one Spinal Tap of a mixed basket. On Lament For the Weary, we witness the band at their somewhat understated peak. At the time of the album, 1991, they were touring extensively throughout the UK and other parts of Europe. They managed to build a substantial fan base and mainstream metal popularity, then split up unexpectedly in 1992, without ever giving a live taste to American…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by undeadFor those of you familiar with the band Ashen Mortality, you may not know of lead singer/guitarist Ian Arkley's former band. This speed/thrash band was also from England, and was one of the best thrash bands I've heard. Although thrash, and very heavy, this album has a lot of classical elements that make it a very original and cool album. Arkley's vocals are different from Ashen in that he…Heaven's Metal #33Reviewed by Doug Van PeltHey, these guys have discovered hooks! This band is getting better and better. Instead of just seeing how fast they can go, they actually have direction to their travel. The rhythm section sounds very tight, and they pull off some heavy grooves. Even a non-thrasher would find themselves headbanging to these tunes. "Recollection Of A Life Once Lived" starts off the album on a good foot, and side…Salt #12Reviewed by scary guyHeavy! Heavy! Heavy! This thrash outfit from England know how to do it mega heavy. Eleven songs here. 3 of which are instrumentals, but all of 'em are good. The lyrics aren't as hardcore as their debut, but tell a story about a person's life and relationship with God, & how it all ends up. As far as their sound goes, they sound very much like a slower, more intricate Death. Now don't get me…
