IAN ARKLEY - Lead & rhythm electric, classical and acoustic guitars, lead vocals, ebow.
KATE HAMILTON - Bass guitar, cello, piano, keyboards, recorder, harmonium, clarinet, vocals, zither, lead corset
ANDI LEE - Electric, classical, acoustic and bass guitars, mandolin, vocals, ebow, embarassing photographs, kilts
JASEN WHYTE - Drums, lead vocals, percussion, cymbals
STEVE ALLAN - Drums, percussion, cymbals, sound engineering (Steve Allan is proud to be endorsed by Stagg Cymbals)
Former members:
ALAN SOUTHORN - Bass guitar
Guest live vocalists in the absence of Jasen:
Devin Shaeffer (Once Dead) at Nordic Fest 07, Mike Hitchen (The Drowning) Hobbits WSM Nov 07, James Moore (The Drowning) Hobbits WSM June 08 (Jasen normally provides additional vocals live, but cannot be present at every gig due to his insistence on living in London.)
Guest rhythm guitar in the absence of Andi: Mike Hitchen (The Drowning)
Influences
IAN's influences and likes include: Trouble, My Dying Bride, Black Sabbath, Celtic Frost, Dead Can Dance, Bauhaus, Empyrium, Cult Of Luna, Neurosis, Paradise Lost, Type-O-Negative, Led Zeppelin, The Blood Divine, Pink Floyd, Sunn O))), Napalm Death, Monster Magnet, The Who, The Cult, NFD, Fields Of The Nephilim, Marillion, Obituary, Candlemass, Judas Priest, Hawkwind, The Ozrics, The Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus, Iron Maiden, Virgin Black, Antestor, Mazzy Star, Nick Cave, Sisters Of Mercy, Tim Booth (James), Mike Oldfield, Leonard Cohen, New Model Army, In The Woods, folk and mediaeval music. Influences also include things such as; woods, castles and cathedrals, good films, friends, faith, lack of faith, sadness, beauty, despair, hope, love, doubt, fear.
JASEN'S influences are: Absurd2, Arcturus [Sideshow Symphonies], Believer, Benea Reach, Bloodwork (UK), Dead Can Dance, Death [Symbolic, Individual Thought Patterns], Decarsus (RIP), Drottnar, Enslaved [Ruun], Extol, Killswitch Engage, Kings X, Koop [Waltz for Koop], Living Sacrifice, Meshuggah, My Dying Bride, Paramaecium, Pestilence [Spheres], Strapping Young Lad [The New Black], Tourniquet.
Others: the art of conversation, beauty, bit of footie, decay, electronic devices/hardware/software, exploring, friends/loved ones, good movies or a series, love, radiography, tea and coffee, the things that make us grow.
KATE'S influences are: Dead Can Dance, Mazzy Star, The Mediaeval Baebes, Hildegard Von Bingen, John Tavener, Fairport Convention, Henryk Gorecki, Empyrium, Vaakavandring, Antestor, Leonard Cohen, Tim and Jeff Buckley, The Guild of Funerary Violinists, Virgin Black and all other music that makes me switch off from the world, even when driving, which can prove dangerous....
ANDI'S influences are: Leonard Cohen, My Dying Bride, In The Woods, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Emperor, Ephel Duath, Neurosis, Candlemass, NIN, Slayer, Daylightdies, Monolithe, Tori Amos, Ozric Tentacles, Mahler, Bartok, Ligeti, Rolf Harris (best version of Stairway ever)
Sounds Like
Doom/death metal with goth, mediaeval, folk, black, progressive and experimental elements. Our music generally appeals to fans of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Agalloch, Katatonia, Anathema etc...Make up your own mind.
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A Garland of Tears is available on vinyl with an exclusive single including a live version of Shadow of Sorrow
.
Buy My Silent Wake's new Album "A Garland of Tears" and other merchandise direct from the band! Click on the Images to go to the MSW web-store.
Note: Orders must be paid for using PayPal, and will be processed by ByteMatrix Limited.
My Silent Wake was formed from the dying embers of Ashen Mortality in May 2005 by Ian Arkley (Seventh Angel, Ashen Mortality, Century Sleeper, Paramaecium, The Other Window). He was joined by ex members of Ashen Mortality, Andi Lee and Jasen Whyte (Bloodwork), and also Alan Southorn (The Other Window) Kate Hamilton joined just prior to the recording of the debut album. The newest member of the band is Steve Allan who has joined on drums. Steve also did the sound engineering on all MSW recordings.
In June 2005 the first recording took place at Kewsound in North Somerset. The 2 song EP which comprises over 16 mins of music was recorded in just 10 hours. One of the songs from the EP 'Encircle' appeared on the cover CD of the Nov/ Dec edition of Zero Tolerance magazine and positive reviews have appeared in many magazines and webzines inc. Terrorizer, Hellride, and Zero Tolerance.
In November 2005 My Silent Wake recorded their debut full length album (again at Kewsound). The album was recorded in just 4 and a half days and with the inclusion of the EP tracks weighs in at over 79 mins of music. The artwork was created by Rex Zachary, who has worked on albums by Opeth (Deliverance) among others.
After work on Shadow of Sorrow was complete, drummer Jasen Whyte began to suffer from a painful wrist injury which meant that playing live was not an option. The band decided to use the time to write and record the follow up to SoS. During early 2006 My Silent Wake began working on an ambitious double album project, the first part of which built on the crushingly heavy sound that they had developed since their formation. The second part aimed to capture a different mood, using almost entirely acoustic instruments and largely recorded live in the studio. The songs showcase the musical abilities of the band, and the more reflective and diverse set of songs are equally heavy in their own way as the more traditional metal songs of the first part.
The resulting double album "The Anatomy of Melancholy" was released by Bombworks records on the 24th of April 2007, and pre-shown to the audience at the 2007 Elements of Rock Festival in Uster, Switzerland, where MSW made their debut live performance using Steve Allan on drums (Steve co-produced and engineered both albums). Jasen continues as a member of the band contributing joint vocals live and an increasing number of vocal parts on the cds. Steve is now a full member of the band and Steve and Jasen both played drums on the follow-up to The Anatomy of Melancholy, which was recorded in a few days at the start of March '08.
During 2007 My Silent Wake filmed two promo videos for a future DVD release with director Andrew Spencer. In the autumn, the band completed a mini tour with The Drowning and they also played Nordic fest in Oslo, Norway. Last year saw My Silent Wake play their first London gig with Norway's Drottnar and the recording of the third album, which has now been released on CD and Vinyl. The artwork for the new album has been created by Matt Vickerstaff, who has created covers for My Dying Bride amongst many others. Last Autumn, My Silent Wake toured again with The Drowning, and also with The Prophecy this time - two of the best doom/death bands in the UK. They also played last year's Nordic Fest along with Ian's re-formed Seventh Angel. The band also recorded a cover of Attrition's ‘Two Gods’ for an Attrition tribute album which has recently been released.
Some future plans include more gigs, the release of a split album with The Drowning (which is currently being recorded in short sessions at Kewsound and Ian's home) and a compilation album/DVD.
Praise for "A Garland Of Tears"
KERRANG! magazine (Reviewer Paul Travers)
A FINELY CRAFTED SLAB OF PROGRESSIVE DEATHLY DOOM.... a classy and highly impressive work. KKKK (4/5) (Reproduced with permission) Kerrang! issue 1245 Jan 24th 2009
METAL.DE Webzine (Reviewer Markus Endres)....well-groomed, epic and really fantastic Death Doom/Gothic Metal..8/10
METAL HAMMER UK (Greg Moffit)...Weston-super-Mare's woebegotten denizens have crafted a fine slab of atmospheric gothic doom....flashes of palpable brilliance...
TEETH OF THE DIVINE Webzine (Reviewer: Shawn Pelata)
The band deftly combines elements of Doom, Death and Folk Metal utilizing four vocalists while creating waves of melancholic mastery....The whole album has a bleak, sad vibe about it....Sonically, there’s a slightly raw, almost live feel about it that does nothing but add to the appeal of the music.
UK METAL UNDERGROUND / www.unionblack.co.uk 9/10 Review by Digideus
...Quite simply, this is one of the finest albums I have heard all year from all genres of metal. Its albums like this that would totally demolish any preconceptions I ever had about the "Big" bands" showing that there are still artists out there capable of competing with the big boys on their own playing field. Bands like Anathema, Opeth and Paradise Lost had better watch their backs, because My Silent Wake have BETTERED them all with this album..
TOM AND MARY'S WEBZINE....The band from England cuts its own path far from well worn alleys. Therefore I am rendered as speechless as I was in the dark days of fall 2007, when I tried to review "The Anatomy of Melancholy". Blessed are those who find the door into this bastion - for they behold a dark ocean, a universe of tears in which they are to find a handful of hope. He who surrenders to this task will prevail.
Rating: 12++/12
KronosMortus.hu: 10 out of 10 pts.
Medazzarock.ch: 10 out of 10 pts.
Tollbooth.com: 4.5 out of 5 pts.
Metal-District.de: 9 out of 10 pts.
UKMU / UnionBlack.co.uk: 9 out of 10 pts.
Concreteweb.be: 85 out of 100 pts.
BurnYourEars.de: 8.5 out of 10 pts.
Kerrang! Magazine: 4 out of 5 pts.
Stormbringer.at: 4 out of 5 pts.
Metalzone.gr: 80 out of 100 pts.
Outburn Magazine: 8 out of 10 pts.
Powerplay magazine: 8 out of 10 pts..
Rock Tribune magazine: 8 out of 10 pts.
Bloodchamber.de: 8 out of 10 pts.
DarkSide.ru: 8 out of 10 pts.
Heavy-metal.de: 8 out of 10 pts.
Holysteel.com: 8 out of 10 pts.
Nocturnalhall.com: 8 out of 10 pts.
Neckbreaker.de: 8 out of 10 pts.
Metal.de: 8 out of 10 pts.
RawAndWild.com: 8 out of 10 pts.
Schwermetall.ch: 11 out of 13 pts.
MusikAnSich.de: 16 out of 20 pts.
Lordsofmetal.nl: 78 out of 100 pts.
Metalglory.de: 7.5 out of 10 pts.
The-Pit.de: 7.5 out of 10 pts.
Babylonmagazine.net: 7.5 out of 10 pts.
HardSounds.it: 74 out of 100 pts.
MusikReviews.de: 11 out of 15 pts.
Helldriver Magazine: 5 out of 7 pts.
PowerOfMetal.dk: 72 out of 100 pts.
Rock Hard magazine: 7 out of 10 pts.
Silentscreamzine.com: 7 out of 10 pts.
I edited my profile with a Mac!!
All reviews reproduced with permission.
View our acoustic profile for more music from M.S.W.
Doom will never die, DOOMRAISER too! As one door closes, another opens. Valerio has decided to leave the band; he wants to concentrate more on his other projects. We all wish Valerio the best of luck with his new vocation. He was, and remains, a formidable guitarist and was an integral part of DOOMRAISER. However, it is with great pleasure that DOOMRAISER announce that Valerio’s replacement is to be none other than our good friend and brother, the fearsomely talented musician Willer. He played bass with evil blacksters Grimness and he’s involved in Black Land, an awesome and obscure heavy psychedelic band from Rome. Practices have been going very well, and Willer is already adding a new, acid and exciting dimension to the band as a whole. His first gig will be at Sinister Noise Club in Rome on the 21th November: a special and drunken night celebrating the birthday of one of the most important Italian underground rock scene club! Stay tuned… and slower, harder, drunker!
Hail! We uploaded one new track, The Dark Night of Reality, from our debut album - When Flesh Becomes Spirit - and we would like to know your thought s about it. Stay Dark! Guilherme & Soturnus
Hello from Connecticut, the home state of Fates Warning. ;) Just here on a little weekend get way from Fort Drum, New York. Just got a nice custom made upright stand up bass (for my psychobilly side), & it was worth the trip. On top of that I got recent lady drama with my hyper active new girlfriend. :) IMO women in New York state are crazy. I'm Eventually I'll be back in Europe, & will eventually find my way back in the UK. I've been playing your CD's on my new stereo. Great atmosphere when the lights are dim. Stay metal & God Bless.
Hail! We uploaded one new track, The Dark Night of Reality, from our debut album - When Flesh Becomes Spirit - and we would like to know your thought s about it.
I just found out about it through the Snooty Fox Website when I was randomly browsing through to see if there were any decent gigs coming up...to make sure I don't miss any haha! I'm kind of glad I checked now - I wouldn't want to miss out on seeing you and The Prophecy playing together again!
Now then, I've got all your albums now since discovering your CDs at Greenbelt this year and have to say you are amazing, I've listened to them all many times, read all the lyrics (and I don't normally bother with that) and can say its now among some of my favourite music. Its really helping me at the moment. I'd really like to catch you live at some point, are either of your next few gigs sold out yet?
£leTriKa sounds completely different from any Metal band you have ever heard. The Brazilian rhythms and the Portuguese language added to the songs makes its style unique, giving birth to a new kind of Metal. If you are really looking for something new about Metal, you should check £leTriKa out!
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![£leŦriKa {[|(NEW+TUNE=v3.1)|]} ╬BrazilianM£ŦAL](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/s_cadcd4a383f748d499e192d847812ca1.jpg)