Ashen Mortality

Ashen Mortality
Tim Cooper, Ian Arkley, Melanie Bolton, and Ben Jones.
Background information
Origin	Halesowen, UK/Birmingham, Alabama
Genres	Doom metal, gothic metal,black metal
Years active	1993–2005
Labels	Forsaken Records
Associated acts	My Silent Wake, Seventh Angel,Paramaecium
Past members	Ian Arkley Melanie Bolton Tim Cooper Ben Jones Andi Lee Jasen Whyte Neil Shilvock George Aytoun

Ashen Mortality were a British doom metal band that was formed in early 1993 by Ian Arkley (Seventh Angel) and Melanie Bolton. They and Paramaecium are the best known Christian Doom metal bands, though they were always wary of being typecast as such. They recorded two demos, and two albums, and played many gigs in England, the Netherlands and Germany. Featuring clean and growled male vocals, and female vocals, their music was heavy, slow to mid-paced, and influenced by medieval music, doom, death and goth. The band split up in 2005, when Arkley went on to form My Silent Wake.

The first demo tape, Ashen Mortality, was recorded at The Wall, Birmingham, England, from 9–11 October 1993, and engineered by Andy Wickett. The band's first gig was with Rez Band, during November 1993 in Salford, England. During 1994, Ashen Mortality played many gigs around the United Kingdom, including a show at the Brixton Academy, London, on 14 May. The second demo was recorded between 16–18 July 1994 at Attic Studios, shortly after which, Jones left the band. On 24 August, Ashen Mortality played at the Greenbelt festival with stand-in drummer, Neal Harris. Harris also played with the band during the tour of Holland and Germany from 2–29 September.

Three tracks from the second demo, "Separation", "Sleepless Remorse" and "Imprisoned", were remixed, and four new songs recorded in 1995 to form Sleepless Remorse, the band's first album. Harris played drums on the new tracks, although Jones can be heard on the remixed demo songs. The album was recorded at Attic Studios (now closed), and was produced for a mere £400. Sleepless Remorse was released in 1996 on Forsaken Records, set up by Bolton. Neil Shilvock joined the band on drums. Ashen Mortality played many gigs in England during the year, playing with bands including: At the Gates, Serenade (band), Acrimony and Hecate Enthroned.