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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = The Torment
| name = The Torment
| Type = Studio
| type = Studio
| Artist = [[Seventh Angel]]
| artist = [[Seventh Angel]]
| Cover = Seventh Angel - The Torment.jpg
| cover = Seventh Angel - The Torment.jpg
| Released = 1990
| alt =
| released = 1990
| Recorded = Recorded and mixed at Mad Hat Studios, Wolverhampton, England; 16 April-11 May 1990
| Genre = [[Thrash metal]], [[Christian metal]]
| recorded = 16 April–11 May 1990
| Length = 38:11
| venue =
| studio = Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton, England
| Label = Edge Records, Under One Flag ([[Music for Nations]]), [[Retroactive Records]]
| genre = [[Christian metal]], [[thrash metal]]
| Producer =
| length = 47:56
| Last album = ''Heed the Warning''<br>(1990)
| label = Edge Records, Under One Flag ([[Music for Nations]]), [[Metal Mind Productions]], [[Retroactive Records]]
| This album = '''''The Torment'''''<br>(1990)
| producer = Paul Hodson
| Next album = ''[[Lament for the Weary]]''<br>(1992)
| prev_title = Heed the Warning
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = [[Lament for the Weary]]
| next_year = 1992
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
'''''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]]''.<ref name=CR_Sammons>{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Seventh_Angel/Heed_The_Warning_Live__Demo_Recordings/18334/ |title=Seventh Angel - Heed the Warning Demo Recordings |accessdate=2007-12-19 |author=Sammons, Greg |date=2006-07-31 |work=[[Cross Rhythms]]}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[HM (magazine)|HM Magazine]]'' ranked it number 51 on the Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time list.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |year=2010 |title=Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time |journal=[[HM (magazine)|HM Magazine]] |volume=August |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/booklet.pdf}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Cross Rhythms]]''
| rev1score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref name="crossrhythms">{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Seventh_Angel/The_Torment/10905/ |title=Seventh Angel – The Torment |accessdate=2007-12-19 |author=Hoff, Brian |date=1990-09-01 |work=[[Cross Rhythms]]}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''Rock Hard''
| rev2score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Review Dynamit: Seventh Angel – The Torment|journal=Rock Hard|year=1990|issue=46|url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/seventh-angel-the-torment|access-date=18 February 2023|language=de}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''Sea of Tranquility''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|website=Sea of Tranquility|url=https://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=7314|title=Review: "Seventh Angel: The Torment (remaster)"|date=January 28, 2009|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref>
}}
'''''The Torment''''' is the debut studio album by the British [[Christian metal|Christian]] [[thrash metal]] band [[Seventh Angel]], released on [[Music for Nations]] in 1990. The album established the band as "one of England's leading thrash metal bands" by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''.<ref name=CR_Sammons>{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Seventh_Angel/Heed_The_Warning_Live__Demo_Recordings/18334/ |title=Seventh Angel – Heed the Warning Demo Recordings |accessdate=2007-12-19 |author=Sammons, Greg |date=2006-07-31 |work=[[Cross Rhythms]]}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[HM (magazine)|HM Magazine]]'' ranked it number 51 on the Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time list.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |year=2010 |title=Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time |journal=[[HM (magazine)|HM Magazine]] |volume=August |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/booklet.pdf}}</ref>


==Recording==
==Recording==
After signing with Under One Flag, a subsidiary label of [[Music for Nations]], 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 metal|progressive]] elements and considerable amount of [[death metal|deathrash]] leanings.
After signing with Under One Flag, a subsidiary label of [[Music for Nations]], Seventh Angel recorded the debut at Mad Hat Studios, Wolverhampton, with producer Paul Hodson. The cover art was done by [[Rodney Matthews]]. The album features plenty of tempo changes, [[progressive metal|progressive]] elements and considerable amount of [[death metal|death/thrash]] leanings. Several songs from two of Seventh Angel's three demos were re-recorded for ''The Torment''. The album cover, created by [[Rodney Matthews]], directly references [[Revelation 9]] in the [[New Testament]].

''The Torment'' has been reissued on various record labels. In 2008, a remaster was released by Polish label [[Metal Mind Productions]], which was limited to 2,000 copies and included the demo song "Lamentations" as a bonus track. In 2005 and 2018, American label [[Retroactive Records]] released remasters of the album, the latter being part of the "Legends Remastered" series of reissues.


==Reception==
==Reception==
In a review published on 1 September 1990 in ''[[Cross Rhythms]]'' 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 Hatchet" 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Seventh_Angel/The_Torment/10905/ |title=Seventh Angel - The Torment |accessdate=2007-12-19 |author=Hoff, Brian |date=1990-07-01 |work=[[Cross Rhythms]]}}</ref> After the release, the British newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote that Seventh Angel is one of England's leading [[Christian metal|Christian]] [[thrash metal]] bands.<ref name=Bolton>Bolton, Nick. ''The Torment'' (albumin sivuviitteet). [[Retroactive Records]]. 2006.</ref> ''The Torment'' achieved notable mainstream distribution.
In a review published on 1 September 1990, Brian Hoff of ''[[Cross Rhythms]]'' magazine gave the album 8 points out of 10, stating that he was particularly impressed by the music and lyrics. Hoff wrote that, "There can be no doubt about it, this album is going to offend, shock, worry and disgust some people." In reference to the lyrics, he promised they would, "...smack you straight between the eyes and tell it as it is."


For example, "Dr. Hatchet" 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 criticism 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."<ref name="crossrhythms" /> After the release, the British newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' wrote that Seventh Angel is one of England's leading [[Christian metal|Christian]] [[thrash metal]] bands.<ref name="Bolton">Bolton, Nick. ''The Torment'' (albumin sivuviitteet). [[Retroactive Records]]. 2006.</ref> ''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]]''.

In the 2018 reissue liner notes, Ian Arkley describes the songs on ''The Torment'' as "heartfelt", though he states his own lyrics as currently being "a million miles away from my thoughts", while speaking positively about Simon Bibby's lyrics due to him being able to "write in a more poetic way".<ref>Arkley, Ian. ''The Torment'' (booklet). 2018 reissue. Retroactive Records. Consulted 18 February 2023.</ref> Eventually, the lyrical style would become more subtle on ''[[Lament for the Weary]]'', the band's second studio album.


==Tour==
==Tour==
During the months following the album's release, the band played concerts in [[Dudley]] and [[Stourbridge]], 5 times in Brierley Hill's The Rock Tavern club. In November 1990, Seventh Angel headlined Metal Meltdown festival.
During the months following the album's release, the band played concerts in [[Dudley]] and [[Stourbridge]], five times in Brierley Hill's The Rock Tavern club. In November 1990, Seventh Angel headlined the Metal Meltdown festival.


In February 1991, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV four times with video material recorded at Metal Meltdown festival. "Forbidden Desires" was the selected song.
In February 1991, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV four times with video material recorded at the Metal Meltdown festival. "Forbidden Desires" was the selected song.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{track listing
All songs written by Seventh Angel.
| title1 = Tormented Forever{{Ref label|hitp|a|a}}
;''The Torment''
| lyrics1 = [[Ian Arkley]]
# "Tormented Forever" – 4:26
# "The Charmer" – 7:21
| length1 = 4:21
| title2 = The Charmer
# "Forbidden Desires" – 3:47
| lyrics2 = Simon Bibby
# "I of the Needle" – 5:42
| music2 = {{hlist|Arkley|Bibby}}
# "Expletive Deleted" – 3:26
| length2 = 7:17
# "Dr Hatchet" – 6:04
| title3 = Forbidden Desires{{Ref label|ud|b|b}}
# "Locked Up in Chains" – 5:14
| length3 = 3:45
# "Acoustic Interlude" – 0:43
| title4 = I of the Needle{{Ref label|ud|b|b}}
# "Katie" – 9:45
| length4 = 5:39
# "Epilogue" – 1:48
| title5 = Expletive Deleted
| length5 = 3:25
| title6 = Dr. Hatchet{{Ref label|hitp|a|a}}{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}
| length6 = 6:04
| title7 = Locked Up in Chains{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}
| length7 = 5:09
| title8 = Acoustic Interlude
| note8 = Instrumental
| length8 = 0:42
| title9 = Katie{{Ref label|hitp|a|a}}
| length9 = 9:44
| title10 = Epilogue
| length10 = 1:50
| total_length = 47:56
| music6 = {{hlist|Arkley|Bibby}}
| music10 = Arkley
| music9 = Arkley
| lyrics9 = Bibby
| music8 = Arkley
| music7 = Arkley
| lyrics7 = Arkley
| music5 = Arkley
| lyrics6 = Arkley
| lyrics5 = Arkley
| music4 = {{hlist|Arkley|Bibby}}
| lyrics4 = Bibby
| music3 = {{hlist|Arkley|Scott A. Rawson|Bibby}}
| lyrics3 = Bibby
| music1 = Arkley
| lyrics10 = Bibby
}}
:{{note label|hp|a|a}} live version appears on ''Heed the Warning: Live & Demo Recordings'' (2005)
:{{note label|ud|b|b}} songs re-recorded from the ''Heed the Warning'' demo (1990)
:{{note label|ud|c|c}} songs re-recorded from ''The Rehearsal Demo'' (1989)


{{track listing
;''Lament for the Weary''
| headline = 2008 reissue bonus track
# "Recollectinos of a Life Once Lived"
| title11 = Lamentations (2008 Demo){{Ref label|ud|d|d}}
# "No Longer a Child"
| length11 = 7:55
# "Full of Blackness"
| total_length = 55:51
# "Lament for the Weary"
}}
# "Woken by Silence"
:{{note label|ud|d|d}} appears on the ''Demo Collection'' (2017)


==Credits==
==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}
;Seventh Angel
{{col-2}}'''Seventh Angel'''
* [[Ian Arkley]] - Guitar, vocals
*[[Ian Arkley]] – vocals, guitars
* Scott Rawson - Rhythm guitar
*Scott A. Rawson – rhythm guitar
* Simon Bibby - Bass
*Simon Bibby – bass guitar, narration on "The Charmer", duet vocals with Arkley on "Epilogue"
* Tank - Drums
*Andrew "Tank" Thompson – drums


'''Production'''
;Additional musicians
*Paul Hodson – producer, engineer (1990 version)
*Paul Hodgson - Additional instruments
*Roy M. Rowland – producer (2005 version), engineer (2005 and 2018 versions)
*Matthew B. Hunt – executive producer (2018 version){{col-2}}'''Additional personnel'''
*[[Rodney Matthews]] – artwork
*Paul Hodson – additional instruments
*Nick Capewell, Wayne Jukes, Lynn Williams, and [[Seventh Angel]] – backing vocals
*Rev – remastering at Creation Station Media (2005 version)
*Jeff Mortimer – remastering at JM Mastering in London, England (2008 version)
*Rob Colwell – remastering at Bombworks Sound in McKinney, Texas (2018 version)
*Scott Waters ([[Ultimatum (American band)|Ultimatum]]) – design, layout (2018 version){{col-end}}


==References==
==References==
Line 66: Line 127:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Seventh_Angel/The_Torment/5124 Album] at [[Metal Archives]]
*[http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Seventh_Angel/The_Torment/5124 Album] at [[Metal Archives]]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Torment, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torment, The}}
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Seventh Angel albums]]
[[Category:Seventh Angel albums]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Rodney Matthews]]

[[fi:The Torment]]

Latest revision as of 07:08, 5 June 2024

The Torment
Studio album by
Seventh Angel
Released1990
Recorded16 April–11 May 1990
StudioMad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton, England
GenreChristian metal, thrash metal
Length47:56
LabelEdge Records, Under One Flag (Music for Nations), Metal Mind Productions, Retroactive Records
ProducerPaul Hodson
Seventh Angel chronology
Heed the Warning
(1990) 		The Torment
(1990) 		Lament for the Weary
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cross Rhythms[1]
Rock Hard[2]
Sea of Tranquility[3]

The Torment is the debut studio album by the British Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel, released on Music for Nations in 1990. The album established the band as "one of England's leading thrash metal bands" by The Daily Telegraph.[4] In 2010, HM Magazine ranked it number 51 on the Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time list.[5]

Recording

[edit]

After signing with Under One Flag, a subsidiary label of Music for Nations, Seventh Angel recorded the debut at Mad Hat Studios, Wolverhampton, with producer Paul Hodson. The cover art was done by Rodney Matthews. The album features plenty of tempo changes, progressive elements and considerable amount of death/thrash leanings. Several songs from two of Seventh Angel's three demos were re-recorded for The Torment. The album cover, created by Rodney Matthews, directly references Revelation 9 in the New Testament.

The Torment has been reissued on various record labels. In 2008, a remaster was released by Polish label Metal Mind Productions, which was limited to 2,000 copies and included the demo song "Lamentations" as a bonus track. In 2005 and 2018, American label Retroactive Records released remasters of the album, the latter being part of the "Legends Remastered" series of reissues.

Reception

[edit]

In a review published on 1 September 1990, Brian Hoff of Cross Rhythms magazine gave the album 8 points out of 10, stating that he was particularly impressed by the music and lyrics. Hoff wrote that, "There can be no doubt about it, this album is going to offend, shock, worry and disgust some people." In reference to the lyrics, he promised they would, "...smack you straight between the eyes and tell it as it is."

For example, "Dr. Hatchet" 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 criticism was Ian Arkleys 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."[1] After the release, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph wrote that Seventh Angel is one of England's leading Christian thrash metal bands.[6] The Torment achieved notable mainstream distribution.

In the 2018 reissue liner notes, Ian Arkley describes the songs on The Torment as "heartfelt", though he states his own lyrics as currently being "a million miles away from my thoughts", while speaking positively about Simon Bibby's lyrics due to him being able to "write in a more poetic way".[7] Eventually, the lyrical style would become more subtle on Lament for the Weary, the band's second studio album.

Tour

[edit]

During the months following the album's release, the band played concerts in Dudley and Stourbridge, five times in Brierley Hill's The Rock Tavern club. In November 1990, Seventh Angel headlined the Metal Meltdown festival.

In February 1991, Seventh Angel appeared on BBC TV four times with video material recorded at the Metal Meltdown festival. "Forbidden Desires" was the selected song.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Tormented Forever[a]"Ian ArkleyArkley4:21
2."The Charmer"Simon Bibby
  • Arkley
  • Bibby
7:17
3."Forbidden Desires[b]"Bibby
  • Arkley
  • Scott A. Rawson
  • Bibby
3:45
4."I of the Needle[b]"Bibby
  • Arkley
  • Bibby
5:39
5."Expletive Deleted"ArkleyArkley3:25
6."Dr. Hatchet[a][c]"Arkley
  • Arkley
  • Bibby
6:04
7."Locked Up in Chains[c]"ArkleyArkley5:09
8."Acoustic Interlude" (Instrumental) Arkley0:42
9."Katie[a]"BibbyArkley9:44
10."Epilogue"BibbyArkley1:50
Total length:47:56
a live version appears on Heed the Warning: Live & Demo Recordings (2005)
b songs re-recorded from the Heed the Warning demo (1990)
c songs re-recorded from The Rehearsal Demo (1989)
2008 reissue bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Lamentations (2008 Demo)[d]"7:55
Total length:55:51
d appears on the Demo Collection (2017)

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hoff, Brian (1 September 1990). "Seventh Angel – The Torment". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  2. ^ "Review Dynamit: Seventh Angel – The Torment". Rock Hard (in German). No. 46. 1990. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Review: "Seventh Angel: The Torment (remaster)"". Sea of Tranquility. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ^ Sammons, Greg (31 July 2006). "Seventh Angel – Heed the Warning Demo Recordings". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  5. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (2010). "Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time" (PDF). HM Magazine. August.
  6. ^ Bolton, Nick. The Torment (albumin sivuviitteet). Retroactive Records. 2006.
  7. ^ Arkley, Ian. The Torment (booklet). 2018 reissue. Retroactive Records. Consulted 18 February 2023.
[edit]
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