Interview with Stereo Invaders - November 2009

- Hello Tom, thank you for being positive to this interview. I am flattered to host you on the webzine. I really appreciate While Heaven Wept’s latest album and in generally the whole career of the band.

Grazie Marco! I really appreciate the opportunity you’ve offered us to talk about the new album, and I am very glad that you are enjoying “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” too!

- Six years have passed since "Of Empires Forlorn" has been released. What has happened to the band in the meantime?

While Heaven Wept underwent a line-up change back in 2004 after the last EU tour, with the departure of drummer Jason Gray and Trevor Schrotz returning on a more permanent basis (we’d rehearsed for a couple months with him before “Empires” as well). Another major line-up change transpired in 2008 when Rain Irving was brought in as lead vocalist – a move that I am sure is shocking for older fans of the band, but in reality it’s a return to the original vision and configuration of the band from 1989, which I might add is rather appropriate considering we’ve returned to the more diverse musical spectrum of our beginnings as well. Between all this, 2005-2006 were spent doing the basic tracks for the “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” album, but then there was a lengthy hiatus where we procured all-new musical equipment, various members’ other bands put out recordings or toured, houses were built, babies born, marriages and divorces took place...a lot of personal things that were more of a priority than ANY band required our attentions. I also found myself broken down once again after the demise of a very intense relationship, which directly lead me back to WHW earlier this year...it was these heavy emotions that drove “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” to completion.

- In your opinion which are the main differences between this new opus of the band and the past releases?

“Vast Oceans Lachrymose” is certainly the most diverse WHW album (so far) musically, with the strongest playing of our careers, and unquestionably the best-produced of the three albums. It’s also more complex lyrically in that the use of metaphors permeate these songs more so than any prior, and it also marks a continuation of the “duality concept” from the “Empires” album (in that the words and songs have more than one meaning). I also feel as though we’ve accomplished a much better realization in terms of the cohesiveness and flow of the whole album, something we always strive for regardless. Additionally, “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” is also the revealing of many other musical facets that no one outside of the band had known to exist, but were always known by us to be a part of the full “WHW identity,” which might shock some long-time fans, but possibly could be of interest to many who never gave us a chance before.

- While Heaven Wept could be considered performers of "Universal Metal" ...what you mean by that? The metal you play includes all sort of genres and subcategories that exist in metal?

Yes, something like this...perhaps more so that we are not committed to any one genre or category, and being that the “WHW sound” is comprised of so many different (and often opposing) elements, in some ways there really is something for everyone – at least those into heavier forms of music. Of course, these said elements are not at all random, and all of our albums really just feature different ratios of specific aspects, typically with a stronger emphasis on one in particular. For the sake of clarity, some of the primary components and influences of this “signature sound” include: 70’s Progressive and Symphonic Rock, Cosmic Music, Doom Metal, Thrash, Classical, Darkwave, Progressive Metal, early Death Metal, some of the more experimental Black Metal, and certainly a large helping early US underground Metal.

- Are you going to support the album live? Will you reach Italian shores too?

We’re absolutely going to be performing live as often as possible, not only in support of “Vast Oceans Lachrymose,” but also to commemorate our 20th anniversary as well! I’m not yet sure of our exact touring plans, but being that we’re once again on an Italian label, I’d say it’s very likely that we’ll finally make it to Italy sometime between 2010-2011! I certainly hope so!

- I find very attractive the talent you have to move the listener emotionally with the power of your instruments. How do you achieve that?

I am quite sure this is the result of playing music with passion, stemming from real-life experiences and genuine emotional catalysts. The music of WHW has always been the result of emotional and spiritual needs, and I for one cannot in good faith perform anything that isn’t sincerely felt. I suppose you could consider each album another entry in an “aural diary” being that every song stems from a relationship, circumstance, or expererience in my life. I do not think I could create music in any other way or for any other purpose.

- What about the next plans of the band? Should we wait six years more to get another While Heaven Wept's album?

The next album “Fear Of Infinity” is already composed in its entirety, largely due to the fact that it consists of 8 songs we removed from the “Vast Oceans Lachrymose” tracklist, plus a more recent epic that is undoubtedly the greatest WHW compostion of all. I’m sure you’re wondering why we set aside so many songs from “VOL,” and the fact is, “The Furthest Shore” just seemed to keep growing and growing, so we felt it was only appropriate to allow our first largescale work in over a decade the space it required to be the centerpiece of “VOL.” Ultimately, it’s primarily a matter of finances that will determine how long it takes us to complete “Fear Of Infinity” – the realization of “VOL” has incurred a massive debt to the recording studio; being that we’ve been self-financed in this regard since the beginning – and no one in WHW is even close to being wealthy, rather living paycheck-to-paycheck, it’s very much dependent upon the sales of “VOL” and related merch as to how quickly we can return to the studio to begin tracking the next album. But we’re very much inspired and hoping to sort it out in several years less than the previous scenario!

- And what about the line-up? Tens of musicians have entered the band and then got out since your first single release in 1994. Could we consider While Heaven Wept as a sort of collective of minds and musicians, a music posse, or Tom Philips is the mainman behind this project who each time avails himself of collaborations and guests?

Apart from the arrivals of Trevor and Rain, the rest of us have been playing together in WHW since 1998, so I’d say this line-up is the most stable of any we’ve ever had. This is reinforced by the fact that everyone (apart from Rain) has spent some amount of time in the band Brave, plus Scott and Michelle are siblings, and Trevor is Michelle’s husband. The four of us have known each other since we were teenagers, so there’s a long history there...as for Jim and Rain, they fit in perfectly as far as chemistry and otherwise. Regarding the latter portion of your question, no one individual is “bigger” that WHW itself, but being that I’ve been the sole composer for the past two decades (apart from a couple songs that I co-authored with the other founding members), the band would probably cease to exist without me. That said, there are so many songwriters involved with the band now, there’s quite a bit of untapped potential, so that last point could very well change in the long run...though its unlikely.

- What about the lyrics? Which are the main themes you deal with in "Vast Oceans Lachrymose"?

The lyrics of “Vast Oceans Lachrymose,” like all WHW albums are, as I mentioned before, all derived from my own life experiences, relationships, thoughts, and emotions. While I’d rather not get too specific because of the fact that there are several ways to interpret the songs and the album as a whole, I will say a large portion of this album refers to the whole of my personal journey, while another big part refers to the relationship that dissolved brutally earlier this year. Ultimately, I rather leave it to each listener to interpret the album however they receive it.

- Do you feel to be part of a Christian metal scene?

Despite various spiritual aspects within the music and the use of strong religious imagery, WHW is not a religious band, nor are we political in any capacity. While Heaven Wept is strictly music from the heart and soul, encompassing real emotions. That said, I can say that the faith of the individual members is a subject for each person – I rather not speak on anyone else’s behalf, but I can say that convictions are strong, and mutually respected.

- Are there nowadays artists and bands you particularly appreciate?

Mostly, I’m listening to old progressive rock and live recordings, but probably the biggest impact for me musically and emotionally in 2009 is the Japanese instrumental band Mono – so deep and beautiful. Otherwise, all the things that I grew up with listening to remain close to my heart.

- Anything I haven't asked you but the readers should know?

We have a very special concert coming up in Wurzburg, Germany on February 6th, 2010 at the Hammer Of Doom III festival where we are co-headlining with Saint Vitus, and sharing the stage with Griftegard, Procession, Atlantean Kodex, etc. It is our only confirmed show so far in the EU, and will be a phenomenal event, so any Italian doom fans that aren’t opposed to travel should really consider going!

- Thank you for your precious time. Hope to hear soon from you. Take care and God bless you!

Thank YOU for the opportunity and also thanks to everyone who waited so patiently for the “VOL” album – I hope everyone finds it was worth waiting for! Ciao!