Vesperian Sorrow
Encyclopedia
Vesperian Sorrow is a symphonic black metal
band from Austin
, Texas
founded in 1994. They were known as Unholy Descent until they changed their name to Vesperian Sorrow in early of 1999. Their lyrics tend to be less extreme than most black metal
bands that cover themes of Satanism
and Anti-Christianity
. They cover instead; the cosmos
, sorrow
, sadness
and darkness
. Their name, Vesperian Sorrow, translates to; "sadness or sorrow in the evening hours."
After releasing their first demo
, Unholy Descent in 1998, Vesperian Sorrow signed a deal with Displeased Records
for the release of their debut album, Beyond the Cursed Eclipse
in 1999 and continued with their second album, Psychotic Sculpture
in 2001. Before their third release, the band toured North America
expansively, and then went on short tours in England
, Germany
and the Czech Republic
to promote the album. Their third album, Regenesis Creation
, was released in 2006 by their current label, Underscape Records, their own label. Throughout 2007 and 2008 Vesperian Sorrow toured extensively across the U.S. and Canada, and played a couple select festivals in Mexico. Most recently in June of '09 they were hand picked for direct support for the legendary Mayhem
in Monterrey
. The band are currently in the studio working on new material and are actively searching for a new label to release their upcoming fourth album entitled Stormwinds of Ages.
Symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.-Characteristics:...
band from Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
founded in 1994. They were known as Unholy Descent until they changed their name to Vesperian Sorrow in early of 1999. Their lyrics tend to be less extreme than most black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
bands that cover themes of Satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
and Anti-Christianity
Criticism of Christianity
Throughout the history of Christianity, many have criticized Christianity, the church, and Christians themselves. Some criticism specifically addresses Christian beliefs, teachings and interpretation of scripture...
. They cover instead; the cosmos
Cosmos
In the general sense, a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system. It originates from the Greek term κόσμος , meaning "order" or "ornament" and is antithetical to the concept of chaos. Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the word Universe . The word cosmos originates from the same root...
, sorrow
Sorrow
Sorrow may refer to:* Sorrow * Sorrow , an EP by The 3rd and the Mortal* "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" , also covered by The Merseys and David Bowie...
, sadness
Sadness
Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness, sorrow, and rage. When sad, people often become outspoken, less energetic, and emotional...
and darkness
Darkness
Darkness, in contrast with brightness, is a relative absence of visible light. It is the appearance of black in a color space. When light is not present, rod and cone cells within the eye are not stimulated. This lack of stimulation means photoreceptor cells are unable to distinguish color...
. Their name, Vesperian Sorrow, translates to; "sadness or sorrow in the evening hours."
After releasing their first demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, Unholy Descent in 1998, Vesperian Sorrow signed a deal with Displeased Records
Displeased Records
Displeased Records is a Dutch independent record label, founded by Lars Eikema and Ron Veltkamp. The label has many Dutch and other extreme metal bands on its roster, but has also rereleased many classic albums, including albums by Agathocles , Cryptopsy, Infernäl Mäjesty, Sadus, Toxik and Whiplash...
for the release of their debut album, Beyond the Cursed Eclipse
Beyond the Cursed Eclipse
Beyond the Cursed Eclipse is the debut album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow. The songs, "Twilight of Azrael" and "Windswept", have an opening sample taken from a play of the Artus-saga. The song, "Twilight of Azrael" refers to Azrael, the angel of death...
in 1999 and continued with their second album, Psychotic Sculpture
Psychotic Sculpture
Psychotic Sculpture is the second album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow. After two years from their debut, the album shows a more mature Vesperian Sorrow and has received rave reviews from critics.-Track listing:...
in 2001. Before their third release, the band toured North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
expansively, and then went on short tours in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
to promote the album. Their third album, Regenesis Creation
Regenesis Creation
Regenesis Creation is the third album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow.- About :Lyrically, the album is a concept album telling a fictional story of a race of beings from another world, exiled and forced with a new beginning to live on another planet...
, was released in 2006 by their current label, Underscape Records, their own label. Throughout 2007 and 2008 Vesperian Sorrow toured extensively across the U.S. and Canada, and played a couple select festivals in Mexico. Most recently in June of '09 they were hand picked for direct support for the legendary Mayhem
Mayhem (band)
Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
. The band are currently in the studio working on new material and are actively searching for a new label to release their upcoming fourth album entitled Stormwinds of Ages.
Albums
- Beyond the Cursed EclipseBeyond the Cursed EclipseBeyond the Cursed Eclipse is the debut album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow. The songs, "Twilight of Azrael" and "Windswept", have an opening sample taken from a play of the Artus-saga. The song, "Twilight of Azrael" refers to Azrael, the angel of death...
(1999) - Psychotic SculpturePsychotic SculpturePsychotic Sculpture is the second album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow. After two years from their debut, the album shows a more mature Vesperian Sorrow and has received rave reviews from critics.-Track listing:...
(2001) - Regenesis CreationRegenesis CreationRegenesis Creation is the third album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow.- About :Lyrically, the album is a concept album telling a fictional story of a race of beings from another world, exiled and forced with a new beginning to live on another planet...
(2006) - Stormwinds of Ages (2011)
Compilations
- Displeased Sampler III (1999)
- Blackened V/ Metal Blade (2000)
- Displeased Sampler IV (2002)
- Trois-Rivieres Metalfest (2006)
Current
- Donn Donni – vocals
- Kristoph – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - William – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- JZD – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Justin M – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Hudson S. Raziel – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Former Members
- James Hardin - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Tony C - bassElectric BassElectric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
- Mike V – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound... - Matthias – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Corinne Alexandria – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Cover songs
- "Cry Lil' SisterCry Little Sister"Cry Little Sister" is a single by Gerard McMann and Michael Mainieri from the 1987 soundtrack to the film The Lost Boys. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200, the single did not chart in the U.S....
" − The Lost Boys soundtrackThe Lost Boys (soundtrack)The Lost Boys is the soundtrack from the 1987 film The Lost Boys released by Atlantic Records.-Track listing:#"Good Times" by INXS and Jimmy Barnes – 3:49#"Lost in the Shadows " by Lou Gramm – 6:17...
by Gerard McMahonGerard McMahonGerard McMahon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who specialises in creating music for films and TV...
from Regenesis CreationRegenesis CreationRegenesis Creation is the third album by the American symphonic black metal band Vesperian Sorrow.- About :Lyrically, the album is a concept album telling a fictional story of a race of beings from another world, exiled and forced with a new beginning to live on another planet...
2008 reissue, also on their MySpace page
External links
- Vesperian Sorrow official website
- Vesperian Sorrow official forum
- Vesperian Sorrow official MySpace
- Vesperian Sorrow at Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...
- Interview with former keyboardist Mike V. at Vampire Magazine
- Interview with vocalist Donn Donni at ARSE