As a reviewer I find it a bit perplexing where to start with While Heaven Wept’s fourth full-length release. I guess the easiest place to start is their last, the critically and deservedly acclaimed 2009 release, Vast Oceans Lachrymose; an album that truly and absolutely defines the word “epic.” I suppose I could go back even farther being a bit of a long time listener of this band (well at least since 2003), to the release of Of Empires Forlorn. These genre-breaking releases established their own style of traditional power/doom Metal. That is quite some time, but keep in mind there was a period of six years between those two albums. Comparing them back to back, you will hear a significantly proportionate change in sound, even though songs off Vast Oceans Lachrymose are credited to being written over a period of even more years. And there was a dark time here where their label Black Lotus went on indefinite hiatus and life in general seemed against the release of that album. So is it fair to compare the newest, or scratch that, is it fair to expect Fear of Infinity to be as special and monumental of a release, just two years later on the heels of a masterpiece? Let’s say yes and no, and there is a point I will make, but let’s talk about this album and the music.

Right out of the gate, the first track wastes no time working away with an aggressive, blistering pace. Using some tremolo picking, double bass and even some Black Metal type orchestration towards the end (that doesn’t really go anywhere) but to end with a repeat and break quickly into another short aggressive riffing track, the first single “Destroyer of Solace.” Here the chorus is catchy as hell. The vocalization is very good as we’ve come to expect (even take for granted) from While Heaven Wept and there is a nice tight change that works into one of the most memorable vocal deliveries on the album. Actually, it is the song that keeps me coming back more than any other on the album. The third song is another short one but the longest of the first three at 4:37. It is another strong, impressive track. It reminds me of Of Empires Forlorn towards the beginning and then ends with a striking vocal delivery, classic While Heaven Wept! And it dawns on me these three songs could almost nearly be one epic track as they lead into each other so well and play off each other. Which is very complimentary, and if the rest of the album could be this good...but here, though, I think is where the really album loses me a little. “Unplenitude” has an Into Eternity like chorus that doesn’t quite work, maybe because my mind compares it to “Black Sea of Agony”, which is a much more striking song in the same vein.  “To Grieve Forever”, isn’t bad, it just doesn’t really stick out until towards the end, but might grow on me eventually. The next track, “Saturn and Sacrifice,” feels like a leftover, nothing appealing to me in the least.  I don’t like it and haven’t since the first time I heard it; it’s cheesy, weak and clichéd. The seventh and final track “Finality” ends the album on a high point with an eleven minute ballad/love song with a beautiful and powerful harmony in the chorus and some doomy, epic movements to sustain it through to an inspiring and fitting finish.

So back to my first observations, if you take this album on its own merit as a single piece of music and not expect it to surpass or even live up to Vast Oceans Lachrymose, there’s a reward to be found. It took me some listens, I’ll admit, to let go and not hold those expectations against it. And in doing so I found, a semi-short, uneven yet dynamic, addictive, and special-in-its-own-right release. It’s a worthy addition to their pedigree and unique release history. Not the masterpiece I wanted on the heels of the release before it, but good enough to win me over and come to enjoy it, warts and all for what it is, a release I look forward to listening to many times to come.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Hour of Reprisal
2.  Destroyer of Solace
3.  Obsessions Now Effigies
4.  Unplenitude
5.  To Grieve Forever
6.  Saturn and Sacrifice
7.  Finality

Total playing time:  37:11

Release Date: April 22, 2011
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

While Heaven Wept - Fear of Infinity

Reviewer: Greg

April 27, 2011