Seventh Angel - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
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1987-
Biography
Demo era (1987-1989)
Seventh Angel was formed in 1987 by Ian Arkley and Andrew Blount with Scott Rawson joining very soon afterwards. In August 1988, the first drummer Andrew Blount was replaced by Andy Hopkins who played with the band until December. For a brief period, Stuart Benton was trialled as vocallist but this was short-lived.
In early 1989, Mark Ruff joined as their drummer. The first demo Seventh Angel was produced in 1989 with Ian playing lead guitar, bass (as Neil A Kray) as well as vocals. A few days later Simon Bibby joined to play bass and the band began to play local concerts around the West Midlands. The band played its first concert in May in Netherton, West Midlands.
In August 1989, Seventh Angel performed their 5th concert at the Greenbelt festival, supporting the American rock band One Bad Pig. Afterwards Mark Ruff left and Seventh Angel toured the United Kingdom, including Ireland, with the American heavy metal band Whitecross. Colin Brookes played drums during the tour. Andrew "Tank" Thompson replaced Colin on drums. The second demo titled, The Rehearsal Demo, was recorded whilst Scott Rawson had a short break away from the band.
Channel 4 and The Daily Telegraph (1990)
On January 25, 1990, Seventh Angel appeared on Channel 4's Not on Sunday programme which featured a performance of "Divine Takeover" and a band interview with Brian Redhead. Later that year The Daily Telegraph described Seventh Angel as "one of Britain's leading Christian thrash metal bands." The demos received positive reviews in various magazines.
On February 14, Ian Arkley and Simon Bibby were involved in a car crash in which Bibby broke his arm and Ian damaged several of his teeth. However, the band was able to play their confirmed concerts. Simon took over on vocal duties and Scott played bass for the gig following the accident.
The Torment
Between March 12 and 14 the third demo titled Heed the Warning was recorded and mixed at White Rabbit Studios in Bridgnorth with Paul Hodson. Afterwards the band recorded their first album entitled The Torment at Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton by the same producer. The British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews painted the cover painting for the album.
Over the next few months Seventh Angel some local venues around Dudley and Stourbridge, including five performances at The Rock Tavern in Brierley Hill. The band headlined Metal Meltdown in November, which was Simon Bibby's last concert as he left the band in February.
BBCTV and Lament for the Weary (1991)
In February, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV four times with footage recorded at their Greenbelt festival concert. "Forbidden Desires" was the featured song.
Simon Jones joined in to play bass and Seventh Angel performed concerts around Horsham and Stourbridge during the spring. The band played festivals including Harry and Crossfire. Seventh Angel toured the UK with Toranaga from March 21 to April 7, playing 11 concerts.
The second album, Lament for the Weary, was recorded in ICC studios, Eastbourne, with Roy Rowland from the July 4 to 16, 1991. Lament saw the band combine doom metal elements to progressive thrash metal. The album received positive reviews.
Seventh Angel performed on the mainstage of Greenbelt festival on August 23, sharing the stage with the American progressive metal group Galactic Cowboys. In October 1991, after a concert in Croydon, Scott left the band, as did Simon Jones after the Greenbelt festival concert and the band continued with only Tank and Ian Arkley as permanent members.
Foreign concerts and disbandment (1992)
On December 7, 1991, the band played a concert at Christmas Rock Night in Ennepetal, Germany. Jon Willis played bass on this occasion. Also filling in for bass during the next few months were Earl Morris of Detritus and Nic White.
Over the next few months the band played some festivals and concerts around the UK, Holland and Germany. On May 30, Seventh Angel played in Utrecht, Holland. Mark Broomhead of the fellow thrash metal band Detritus played bass at the time for Seventh Angel, and the band played a concert at Greenbelt festival on August 28, sharing stage with the reputive Swedish progressive doom metal group Veni Domine.
Seventh Angel toured Holland from September 9 to October 12, and from November 12 until December 12. Mark Broomhead became a permanent member of the Band, and despite work towards a new album for the now three piece, December 12, 1992 saw Seventh Angel's last gig in Utrecht, Holland and the band split up shortly afterwards.
Ian Arkley went to form the doom metal band Ashen Mortality in 1993; Tank formed rap metal group Freekspert and later SukMunki; Mark joined with other former Seventh Angel bassist Simon Bibby on epic doom project Amaranth and later experimental rock band Fire Fly.
Comeback and The Dust of Years (2008-)
Seventh Angel announced reforming on May 23, 2008. They also announced the release of a new album. The current line-up consists of the original members Ian Arkley, Andrew "Tank" Thompson (drums), Simon Bibby (guitar), and Mark Broomhead (bass). The group also launched an official Myspace. On October 1, the Polish label Metal Mind Productions announced re-issuing the band's first two releases. The band has written half the song material for their new album, according to the press release. The re-issue of Lament includes a newly recorded bonus track titled "The Turning Tide". The song features similar thrash/doom style the band is known for, albeit with death growl vocals as opposed to the previous thrash shouting. In late 2008, the band performed concerts in Brainstorm festival, Netherlands, and Nordic Fest, Norway. On March 3, 2009, Blabbermouth.net reported that the band would enter studio The Priory in Birmingham with Greg Chandler of Esoteric to record their new album. The cover art was provided by Matt Vickerstaff of Darkwave Art. On March 6, it was announced that the band signed with Bombworks Records to release the album. As reported via their Myspace, during March 19-23 the band recorded the album, entitled The Dust of Years, which was released on June 24.
Bio sorce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Angel
Seventh Angel was formed in 1987 by Ian Arkley and Andrew Blount with Scott Rawson joining very soon afterwards. In August 1988, the first drummer Andrew Blount was replaced by Andy Hopkins who played with the band until December. For a brief period, Stuart Benton was trialled as vocallist but this was short-lived.
In early 1989, Mark Ruff joined as their drummer. The first demo Seventh Angel was produced in 1989 with Ian playing lead guitar, bass (as Neil A Kray) as well as vocals. A few days later Simon Bibby joined to play bass and the band began to play local concerts around the West Midlands. The band played its first concert in May in Netherton, West Midlands.
In August 1989, Seventh Angel performed their 5th concert at the Greenbelt festival, supporting the American rock band One Bad Pig. Afterwards Mark Ruff left and Seventh Angel toured the United Kingdom, including Ireland, with the American heavy metal band Whitecross. Colin Brookes played drums during the tour. Andrew "Tank" Thompson replaced Colin on drums. The second demo titled, The Rehearsal Demo, was recorded whilst Scott Rawson had a short break away from the band.
Channel 4 and The Daily Telegraph (1990)
On January 25, 1990, Seventh Angel appeared on Channel 4's Not on Sunday programme which featured a performance of "Divine Takeover" and a band interview with Brian Redhead. Later that year The Daily Telegraph described Seventh Angel as "one of Britain's leading Christian thrash metal bands." The demos received positive reviews in various magazines.
On February 14, Ian Arkley and Simon Bibby were involved in a car crash in which Bibby broke his arm and Ian damaged several of his teeth. However, the band was able to play their confirmed concerts. Simon took over on vocal duties and Scott played bass for the gig following the accident.
The Torment
Between March 12 and 14 the third demo titled Heed the Warning was recorded and mixed at White Rabbit Studios in Bridgnorth with Paul Hodson. Afterwards the band recorded their first album entitled The Torment at Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton by the same producer. The British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews painted the cover painting for the album.
Over the next few months Seventh Angel some local venues around Dudley and Stourbridge, including five performances at The Rock Tavern in Brierley Hill. The band headlined Metal Meltdown in November, which was Simon Bibby's last concert as he left the band in February.
BBCTV and Lament for the Weary (1991)
In February, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV four times with footage recorded at their Greenbelt festival concert. "Forbidden Desires" was the featured song.
Simon Jones joined in to play bass and Seventh Angel performed concerts around Horsham and Stourbridge during the spring. The band played festivals including Harry and Crossfire. Seventh Angel toured the UK with Toranaga from March 21 to April 7, playing 11 concerts.
The second album, Lament for the Weary, was recorded in ICC studios, Eastbourne, with Roy Rowland from the July 4 to 16, 1991. Lament saw the band combine doom metal elements to progressive thrash metal. The album received positive reviews.
Seventh Angel performed on the mainstage of Greenbelt festival on August 23, sharing the stage with the American progressive metal group Galactic Cowboys. In October 1991, after a concert in Croydon, Scott left the band, as did Simon Jones after the Greenbelt festival concert and the band continued with only Tank and Ian Arkley as permanent members.
Foreign concerts and disbandment (1992)
On December 7, 1991, the band played a concert at Christmas Rock Night in Ennepetal, Germany. Jon Willis played bass on this occasion. Also filling in for bass during the next few months were Earl Morris of Detritus and Nic White.
Over the next few months the band played some festivals and concerts around the UK, Holland and Germany. On May 30, Seventh Angel played in Utrecht, Holland. Mark Broomhead of the fellow thrash metal band Detritus played bass at the time for Seventh Angel, and the band played a concert at Greenbelt festival on August 28, sharing stage with the reputive Swedish progressive doom metal group Veni Domine.
Seventh Angel toured Holland from September 9 to October 12, and from November 12 until December 12. Mark Broomhead became a permanent member of the Band, and despite work towards a new album for the now three piece, December 12, 1992 saw Seventh Angel's last gig in Utrecht, Holland and the band split up shortly afterwards.
Ian Arkley went to form the doom metal band Ashen Mortality in 1993; Tank formed rap metal group Freekspert and later SukMunki; Mark joined with other former Seventh Angel bassist Simon Bibby on epic doom project Amaranth and later experimental rock band Fire Fly.
Comeback and The Dust of Years (2008-)
Seventh Angel announced reforming on May 23, 2008. They also announced the release of a new album. The current line-up consists of the original members Ian Arkley, Andrew "Tank" Thompson (drums), Simon Bibby (guitar), and Mark Broomhead (bass). The group also launched an official Myspace. On October 1, the Polish label Metal Mind Productions announced re-issuing the band's first two releases. The band has written half the song material for their new album, according to the press release. The re-issue of Lament includes a newly recorded bonus track titled "The Turning Tide". The song features similar thrash/doom style the band is known for, albeit with death growl vocals as opposed to the previous thrash shouting. In late 2008, the band performed concerts in Brainstorm festival, Netherlands, and Nordic Fest, Norway. On March 3, 2009, Blabbermouth.net reported that the band would enter studio The Priory in Birmingham with Greg Chandler of Esoteric to record their new album. The cover art was provided by Matt Vickerstaff of Darkwave Art. On March 6, it was announced that the band signed with Bombworks Records to release the album. As reported via their Myspace, during March 19-23 the band recorded the album, entitled The Dust of Years, which was released on June 24.
Bio sorce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Angel