| On August 22, 2021, the world bid farewell to Eric Wagner, former vocalist of Trouble, whose passing deepened the shadows over an already challenging year. For many, Eric’s music had been a source of solace, a healing balm during difficult times. In a poignant twist of fate, Eric completed his debut solo album, In the Lonely Light of Mourning, mere weeks before his death. This powerful record now stands as a fitting swansong for one of doom metal's most cherished voices.
The idea for a solo album had been simmering for years, nurtured by Eric's circle of trusted friends and collaborators. Among them were former Trouble bandmates and musicians from his post-Trouble projects, Blackfinger and The Skull. Eric also enlisted a wide array of musicians with whom he had shared the stage, creating an album that felt like a family gathering. In 2017, he teamed up with former Trouble and current Blackfinger drummer Dave Snyder, initiating the creative journey that would culminate in In the Lonely Light of Mourning. Along the way, Eric’s friends contributed riffs, solos, song titles, and even entire song ideas, crafting the collaborative vision he had always imagined.
The album’s depth is striking. Melancholic acoustic passages intertwine with Snyder’s monumental riffs, all anchored by Eric’s singular, soul-stirring voice. True to Eric’s ethos, the album is pure doom metal at its core—raw, introspective, brooding, and heavy. Lyrically, it finds Eric at his most vulnerable, with moments that seem to foreshadow the inevitable, lending an eerie poignancy to his final work.
Eric Wagner’s influence on doom metal is immeasurable. His legacy, forged with Trouble, continues to resonate through countless bands inspired by their heartfelt, weighty sound. In the Lonely Light of Mourning not only captures the essence of Eric’s artistry but also cements his place as a guiding light in the annals of metal history.
Rest in peace, Eric. Your voice will forever echo in the hearts of those you touched. Shine on.
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