The Torment
Encyclopedia
The Torment is the first studio album by the British thrash metal
band Seventh Angel
, released on Music for Nations
label in 1990. The album established the band as "one of England's leading thrash metal bands" by The Daily Telegraph
. In 2010, HM Magazine ranked it #51 on the Top 100 Christian metal albums of all time list.
, Seventh Angel recorded the debut at Mad Hat Sudios, Wolverhampton, with producer Paul Hodson. The coverart was done by Rodney Matthews
. The album features plenty of tempo changes, progressive elements and considerable amount of deathrash leanings.
magazine, Brian Hoff gave the album 8 points out of 10 and stated he was impressed by the music and lyrics. He wrote that "There can be no doubt about it, this album is going to offend, shock, worry and disgust some people.", referring to lyrics that "smack you straight between the eyes and tell it as it is." For example, "Dr. Hatchett" is a song which accuses those in the medical profession who perform abortions of being cold blooded murderers. According to Hoff, the song caused "much controversy amongst certain so-called Christian event organizers." Musically, Hoff felt that the only thing that needed cricism was Ian Arkley
s vocals: "These are excellent for the thrash numbers, but unlike his guitar work, lack the range, imagination and musicality to cope with a track like "Katie" where some real vocal dexterity is called for, Ian sounds more like he's talking or doing a 'Make Way' chant than singing." After the release, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph
wrote that Seventh Angel is one of England's leading Christian thrash metal bands. The Torment achieved notable mainstream distribution.
Later, Ian Arkley has stated in interviews that he regrets the album's lyrics because he was "young and reckless" at the time he wrote them. Eventually, the lyrical style would become more subtle on the second album Lament for the Weary
.
and Stourbridge
, 5 times in Brierley Hill's The Rock Tavern club. In November 1990, Seventh Angel headlined Metal Meltdown festival.
On February 1991, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV 4 times with videomaterial recorded at Metal Meltdown festival. "Forbidden Desires" was the selected song.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Seventh Angel
Seventh Angel
Seventh Angel are a British Christian heavy metal band that formed in 1987. According to Cross Rhythms magazine, they were considered to be thrash metal pioneers, and they released the albums The Torment and Lament for the Weary...
, released on Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
label in 1990. The album established the band as "one of England's leading thrash metal bands" by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. In 2010, HM Magazine ranked it #51 on the Top 100 Christian metal albums of all time list.
Recording
After signing with Under One Flag, a subsidiary label of Music for NationsMusic For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
, Seventh Angel recorded the debut at Mad Hat Sudios, Wolverhampton, with producer Paul Hodson. The coverart was done by Rodney Matthews
Rodney Matthews
Rodney Matthews is a fantasy artist and illustrator.In 1978, he published Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer, a hard-back picture book featuring his distinctive paintings of "The Wild Country", a fantasy world seen through the eyes of young Yendor, named after his son...
. The album features plenty of tempo changes, progressive elements and considerable amount of deathrash leanings.
Reception
In a review published on September 1, 1990 in Cross RhythmsCross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
magazine, Brian Hoff gave the album 8 points out of 10 and stated he was impressed by the music and lyrics. He wrote that "There can be no doubt about it, this album is going to offend, shock, worry and disgust some people.", referring to lyrics that "smack you straight between the eyes and tell it as it is." For example, "Dr. Hatchett" is a song which accuses those in the medical profession who perform abortions of being cold blooded murderers. According to Hoff, the song caused "much controversy amongst certain so-called Christian event organizers." Musically, Hoff felt that the only thing that needed cricism was Ian Arkley
Ian Arkley
Ian Arkley is a guitarist in the death/doom/gothic metal genre, his current band is the UK gothic doom metal outfit My Silent Wake.Arkley first gained attention as a member of seminal Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel...
s vocals: "These are excellent for the thrash numbers, but unlike his guitar work, lack the range, imagination and musicality to cope with a track like "Katie" where some real vocal dexterity is called for, Ian sounds more like he's talking or doing a 'Make Way' chant than singing." After the release, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
wrote that Seventh Angel is one of England's leading Christian thrash metal bands. The Torment achieved notable mainstream distribution.
Later, Ian Arkley has stated in interviews that he regrets the album's lyrics because he was "young and reckless" at the time he wrote them. Eventually, the lyrical style would become more subtle on the second album Lament for the Weary
Lament for the Weary
Lament for the Weary is Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel's second album, released in 1992 on Music for Nations. The album saw the band incorporating doom metal elements to thrash. The album garnered generous reviews from British music press at the time.-Recording history:The album was...
.
Tour
During the following months after the album's release, the band played concerts in DudleyDudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
and Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, 5 times in Brierley Hill's The Rock Tavern club. In November 1990, Seventh Angel headlined Metal Meltdown festival.
On February 1991, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV 4 times with videomaterial recorded at Metal Meltdown festival. "Forbidden Desires" was the selected song.
Track listing
All songs written by Seventh Angel- "Tormented Forever" – 4:26
- "The Charmer" – 7:21
- "Forbidden Desires" – 3:47
- "I of the Needle" – 5:42
- "Expletive Deleted" – 3:26
- "Dr Hatchet" – 6:04
- "Locked Up in Chains" – 5:14
- "Acoustic Interlude" – 0:43
- "Katie" – 9:45
- "Epilogue" – 1:48
Seventh Angel
- Ian ArkleyIan ArkleyIan Arkley is a guitarist in the death/doom/gothic metal genre, his current band is the UK gothic doom metal outfit My Silent Wake.Arkley first gained attention as a member of seminal Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel...
- Guitar, Vocals - Scott Rawson - Rhythm Guitar
- Simon Bibby - Bass
- Tank - Drums