Mournful Congregation

Mournful Congregation is a funeral doom metal band from Adelaide, South Australia, which was founded in 1993, and has included members of Chalice, Cauldron Black Ram and Esoteric.

Mournful Congregation
Damon Good performing with Mournful Congregation at Netherlands Deathfest III on March 4, 2018.
Background information
OriginAdelaide, Australia
GenresFuneral doom
Years active1993–present
LabelsOsmose, Weird Truth, 20 Buck Spin, Obsidian, Painiac, Ostra
Associated actsPortal
StarGazer
Cauldron Black Ram
Chalice
Funeral Moth
Monolithe
Abstract Spirit
Websitemournfulcongregation.com
MembersDamon Good
Justin Hartwig
Ben Petch
Ben Newsome
Tim Call
Past membersAdrian Bickle
Stuart Prickett
Nick Hansen
Sean Graetz
Mark Bodossian
Denny Blake

History

Beginnings (1993–2009)

In the 1990s they released several demos; the last of these re-released as an LP in 2002. All of these are included with the single "The Epitome of Gods and Men Alike" on the double CD The Dawning of Mournful Hymns. This was followed by the release of another 7" titled "A Slow March to the Burial". 2005 saw the release of The Monad of Creation, although most of the material is much older, with some dating back to 1994. In 2009, the band performed live for the first time in their fifteen-year existence. They played four Australian shows, followed up by a further 17 shows throughout Europe to promote their album The June Frost, released that year.

Compilations and The Book of Kings (2011–2018)

The group issued a compilation album, The Unspoken Hymns, in September 2011.[1] Mathias Bloodaxe of VoltageMedia felt it has "some of Mournful Congregation's best work... it is aimed at introducing one of Australia's best bands onto American audiences. The compilation features songs [and versions of songs] only previously available on long sold out limited vinyl splits, and being someone who generally loathes best of compilations, I find this a very worthy release."[1]

Their fourth studio album, The Book of Kings, followed in November 2011 via Obsidian Records.[2] MichaelO'Brien of The Metal Forge rated the album at 9.5 out-of ten he explained that they had "A mature and damn near flawless album... [and] reaffirmed their place within the upper tier of the doom genre with what is easily their best and most mature work to date."[3] They undertook a tour of the United States west coast.[2]

Mournful Congregation's fifth album The Incubus of Karma was released on 23 March 2018.[4]

Discography

Demos

  • Weeping (1994)
  • An Epic Dream of Desire (1995)

Split albums

  • Let There Be Doom... / The Epitome of Gods and Men Alike (2002-with Worship)
  • A Slow March to the Burial (2004-with Stabat Mater)
  • Ascent of the Flames / Descent of the Flames (2007-with Stone Wings)
  • Four Burials (2008-with Otesanek, Loss, and Orthodox)

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • The Dawning of Mournful Hymns (2002)
  • The Unspoken Hymns (20 September 2011)[1]
  • Weeping/An Epic Dream of Desire (2012)

Extended plays

  • Concrescence of the Sophia (2014)

Members

Current

  • Damon Good – vocals, guitar (1993–present), bass (1993–2000, 2000–2008)
  • Justin Hartwig – guitar (1999–present)
  • Ben Petch – guitar, drums, vocals (1993–1996), guitar (2008-2011, 2017-present)
  • Ben Newsome – bass (2008–present)
  • Tim Call – drums (2015–present)

Former

  • Adrian Bickle – drums (1997–2015)
  • Stuart Prickett – guitar live (2011–2016)
  • Sean Graetz – guitar (2000)
  • Mark Bodossian – bass (2000)
  • Denny Blake – drums (2003)

Timeline

References

  1. Bloodaxe, Mathias (27 July 2011). "Mournful Congregation – The Unspoken Hymns". VoltageMedia. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. MeanMachine (8 September 2011). "Mournful Congregation album details and sampler". Metal Obsession. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. O'Brien, Michael (4 November 2011). "Review >> Mournful Congregation – The Book of Kings". The Metal Forge. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. "Album Review: Mournful Congregation - "The Incubus of Karma"". Decibel Magazine. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
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