Almost a cult institution, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, beset by constant line-up fluctuations, has nevertheless engendered an almost reverential status within the annals of Doom. Mentor Tom Phillips is known for his associations with such diverse acts as PARASITIC INFESTATION, GRAND BELIAL'S KEY, TWISTED TOWER DIRE, BRAVE and ARISE FROM THORNS.

The origins of WHILE HEAVEN WEPT lay in the act DREAM WYTCH, forged in November of 1989 by erstwhile POLARIS guitarists Chris Galvan and Tom Phillips. The duo intended to bring to life an act that would incorporate elements of Doom, Progressive Rock and classical influences but with a marked atmosphere of "utter despair". However, between 1990 and 1993 DREAM WYTCH was afflicted by unceasing line-up changes, culminating in Tom Phillips remaining as sole founder member. This pivotal moment of change within the band was to coincide with a number of personal tragedies in the musician's life and so a new band title of WHILE HEAVEN WEPT was adopted.

In late 1993 bass player Gabe Funston and drummer Jon Paquin were enrolled and in January of the following year recording sessions took place which yielded the limited edition 'Into The Wells Of Sorrow' 7" vinyl single for the Open Eye label, material for a split single with Californians COLD MOURNING and an EP 'Lovesongs Of The Foresaken'. Despite this very tangible solid progress Funston decamped in April of 1995. WHILE HEAVEN WEPT regrouped by drawing in former GREY DIVISION BLUE musicians guitarist Kevin Hufnagel, also of THE FIFTH SEASON, along with viola and bass player Dan Clayton 'Varsalin' Ingerson.

This revised version of the band retired to Neptune Studios in the Autumn of 1995, home of the band's previous sessions, to record the album 'Sorrow Of The Angels'. Unfortunately these tracks were left unfinished as the band were reportedly frustrated at being unable to achieve the sound they desired. With WHILE HEAVEN WEPT on temporary hiatus Phillips kept active, lending guest vocals to demos for TWISTED TOWER DIRE and joining the British underground Doom band SOLSTICE as frontman. Meantime, Hufnagel embarked upon solo work issuing the cassette 'While I Wait' and involving himself with Dan Clayton Ingerson in an instrumental band project DYSRHYTHMIA.

With Phillip's return to North America in 1996 the 'Sorrow Of The Angels' endeavour would be resurrected, the singer working with Ingerson and Paquin. It would be a full year before actual recording commenced in August of 1997, finally seeing the light of day courtesy of the Italian Eibon label in late 1998. The record comprising of three nine minute dirgeful protestations, saw Phillips handling vocals, guitar and keyboards.

In order to perform the material in the live arena WHILE HEAVEN WEPT was re-constructed with Phillips and Paquin enlisting aid of TWISTED TOWER DIRE's guitarist Scott Waldrop and bass player Jim Murad. However, with TWISTED TOWER DIRE's career path accelerating this latest incarnation of WHILE HEAVEN WEPT lasted a little over three months before priorities necessitated the withdrawal of Waldrop and Murad. Jim Hunter, of OCTOBER 31 and previously with REVELATION, became the band's new bassist with guitar duties delegated to the sibling duo of Scott and Michelle Loose, both of ARISE FROM THORNS. Scott Loose had in fact been an early member of WHILE HEAVEN WEPT back in 1993. With a concrete line up the group put in extensive road work promoting the album across North America sharing stages with acts such as REVELATION, SPIRIT CARAVAN, INTERNAL VOID and PALE DIVINE amongst many others.

Citing "internal tensions" the group was to fracture. Phillips had become involved with ARISE FROM THORNS as a studio consultant during recording of their 'Before An Audience Of Stars' album and subsequently joing the band as second guitarist. With WHILE HEAVEN WEPT on hold Phillips allied himself with Scott and Michelle Loose to found BRAVE, a band unit which undertook over a hundred live performances over a two year period and released the 4 track EP 'Waist Deep In Dark Waters'.With Phillips combating a major illness added to internal frustrations within BRAVE this latest venture was to flounder.

Phillips re-activated WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, severing ties with BRAVE in April 2001. Joining him would be Scott Loose on guitar, Jim Hunter on bass and a series of drummers starting with BRAVE's Trevor Schrotz. Former comrade Jon Paquin took on the position briefly before Phil Bloxom, veteran of 80s Heavy Metal band HELLION, took the drum stool. The following candidate would be Jason Gray of Death-Doom act FORTY DAYS LONGING and shortly after WHILE HEAVEN WEPT's sound would be embellished further with the addition of keyboards from OVERDOSE man Jake Bodnar. This union crafted the 'Of Empires Forlorn' album.

The German Metal Supremacy label weighed in with a retrospective release 'Chapter One: 1989-1999'. A new studio album, 'Vast Oceans Lachrymose' was targeted for release through the band's own imprint Vast Music Lachrymose Productions. Further live work into April 2004 had the band united with Irish act MOURNING BELOVETH and Belgians PANTHEÏST for European shows.

Former WHILE HEAVEN WEPT man Kevin Hufnagel founded Dark Ambient act BYLA in 2003, working in collusion with Colin Marston of INFIDEL? / CASTRO! And BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS repute.

In mid 2005 WHILE HEAVEN WEPT returned, signing with Greece's Black Lotus Records for the album ''Vast Oceans Lachrymose'. However, in late 2006 their new label went under. Cruz Del Sur Music duly picked up 'Vast Oceans Lachrymose' for 2007 issue.

Garry Sharpe-Young