While Heaven Wept: The H.o.S. Interview
(Page 5 of 6)
UD: In the well-documented "doom-metal wars" of late, it seems like you're always trying to be a voice of reason amongst the insanity. Does it dishearten you that the doom metal "scene" has devolved into just as big of a poseurfied mess as the stoner rock community did?
TP: It's true that I've always maintained a level head about this warring, as I have allies on both "sides." I understand the reasoning behind the wars, and while I prefer to remain neutral, I ultimately will side with my longtime brethren when pressed personally. It is disheartening that people cannot just agree to co-exist, but the amount of misinformation that begins with incorrect labeling that is passed on and perpetuated by the media is infuriating. I don't know if I would go so far as to say that the doom scene has devolved, but the fracturing did begin when stoner rock and doom started getting thrown together under the same umbrella, and the focus of the war has now broadened to include a separate front against the gothic and slow death metal bands as well. When all is said and done, my perspective is simply this: If you don't like a certain kind of music, don't listen to it; it serves no purpose but to further fracture things when you start bashing this or that.
UD: For a long time, and I guess to this day, it has been kind of hard to get a hold of WHW releases - in large part because of limited pressings and distribution. Has this been part of a conscious effort to "keep things underground" or just the reality of the cards you've been dealt?
Tom Phillips: We've never been motivated by profit, only personal expression, so there was never really any desire to pursue a more lucrative deal, and being that the music is so personal, I never really wanted to share it with every kid wearing a Cradle Of Filth shirt. So I suppose you can say it was something of a conscious decision. Another factor was my general dissatisfaction with the productions and performances on the older releases, but now with Empires I feel like we are finally realizing what I've always had in mind for WHW.
UD: Rumor has it that a licensing agreement has been reached for an "unlimited" pressing on the Of Empires Forlorn CD. Any truth to this?
TP: Yes, after all these years we finally decided to sign a licensing agreement that will allow us to cover a much larger territory. After going over offers from various labels, we decided that Rage Of Achilles made us the best offer.
UD: Are there any forthcoming WHW releases folks should keep their eyes peeled for?
TP: The most important release to watch for is the unlimited edition of the Empires album coming this September on the UK label Rage Of Achilles. That version will include one song that was not on the Eibon pressing, and will feature an improved mix overall. Additionally, a vinyl pressing of the album will appear sometime, once again on Germany's Metal Supremacy Records, but I don't have a release date for that yet. Then we also have a split 7" coming up with The Doomsday Cult from Sweden, and eventually another 7" single from the album. After that, we'll be releasing the Sorrow Of The Angels: Definitive Edition on both Eibon and Rage Of Achilles. And we've already been writing the Vast Oceans Lachrymose album for quite some time now!
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