Category Archives: Eric Wagner

Watch Lyric Video For Title Track Of The Skull Singer Eric Wagner’s Posthumous Solo Album “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning”

Posted by caemanamelio on

A lyric video has been released for “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” from late The Skull frontman Eric Wagner’s new solo album. That song features Victor Griffin (Place Of Skulls, ex-Pentagram) and it will serve as the title track of the aforementioned record, which is set to be released on March 18.

Dave Snyder commented:

“The title track is lyrically foreboding musically, vocally raw and emotional. It’s intentionally spacious. We talked about the ‘less is more’ approach,’ leaving space to breathe. When we were putting this one together, Eric said once the chorus kicks in, ‘it’s gut-wrenching.’ I love that!

Being a huge fan of Eric and Victor’s work, I was ecstatic when Eric told me Victor was on board for this one. I’m not sure it gets much heavier than those two together! To be a part of that is a complete privilege and honor. I am forever grateful.”

Griffin added:

“Eric messaged me initially to see if I was interested in doing a solo on one of the songs, then we discussed it on the phone. He sent me the rough mix to check out and honestly, the first thing that struck me was the lyrics. Speaking of kinship, I really felt it with those lyrics. It kinda reminded me of a song I wrote on PLACE OF SKULLS’ first album called ‘Dead’.

I’m not sure we were overdue to work together. Things have a way of working out the way they should most of the time. Prior to this, we got together briefly in 2009 when I invited him to sing for DEATH ROW for a one-off show at the Hammer Of Doom fest in Germany. Some of that show can be seen on YouTube. We also worked on another brief project with Ron Holzner and Henry Vasquez. I think it was Eric’s idea to get the four of us together, so those guys came down to my place for a couple of days and we worked up some pretty cool riffs. In the end, the idea sort of dissolved for whatever reason but we did get some photos during that one session.

I think it turned out great, and the song really means a lot, especially under the circumstances. It reminds me…I was working on the solo one evening and texted Eric to tell him how much I liked the song…the lyrics, his emotional vocal melody, and all the other instrumentation. He came back and said, ‘I picked that one for you for a reason.’ It seems as odd now as it did then, but we both just left it at that. I never replied back about what he meant, and he never offered an explanation…it was never brought up again. For whatever reason, I guess we both had peace with ending the conversation that way. I still think about it sometimes but feel good about how we left it. I guess I’ll know the reason when it’s time.”

[via Blabbermouth]

Listen To “Maybe Tomorrow” From Ex-Trouble Singer Eric Wagner’s Posthumous Solo Album “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning”

Posted by caemanamelio on

A new song, titled “Maybe Tomorrow,” from the late Eric Wagner (ex-Trouble) is available below. This track is from the singer’s posthumous solo album “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” (out March 22).

David Snyder commented:

“The pre-chorus part was definitely influenced by Chuck Robinson’s old band This Tortured Soul which, at that time, I had the pleasure of playing second guitar for a few shows. That influenced things for sure. The verses and descending single note parts were Eric’s suggestions and the main riff was originally just single notes. And, just before recording, Eric wanted it heavier, so I added the low droning open note and asked what he thought and in true Eric form, he calmly said, ‘That’s it. It’s a jam.’ On the first rough mixes you can hear him say it when the song started while he did the vocals, which definitely brought a smile every time I heard it. The song’s style ended up being a cool full-circle thing with Chuck and I and being fans of Eric’s music, who greatly influenced our own styles. Add in Lothar Keller’s stunning solo and Ron Holzner’s badass bass and it rounded the whole track out rather well, I have to say.”

Lothar Keller continued:

“It’s very interesting hearing this tune now that Eric has gone to the other side. Call it premonition or whatever someone’s take on it is — you can hear it in his voice and it will definitely hit you.

I am honored to have been a part of Eric’s last album and his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of many.”

Chuck Robinson added:

“The groove and vibe on ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ is insane. It’s just a killer riff with great drive. I remember Eric was very adamant how he wanted the feel to be. Eric’s lyrics were so personal to him. He was a master with words, hidden meanings and messages. Only he knew for sure…”

Eric Wagner’s Solo Album “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” To Receive Posthumous Release In March

Posted by caemanamelio on

Cruz Del Sur Music will be posthumously releasing a new solo album from Eric Wagner (The Skull, ex-Trouble) in March 2022. The effort is titled “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” and the cover art and track listing for it can be found below:

“In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” Track Listing:

01. “Rest In Place”
02. “Maybe Tomorrow”
03. “Isolation”
04. “If You Lost It All”
05. “Strain Theory”
06. “Walk With Me To The Sun”
07. “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning”
08. “Wish You Well”

A number of people involved in the project commented:

Cruz Del Sur Music owner Enrico Leccese:

“It has been a great honor to have the chance to work with Eric. He has been a reference in my life since, as a fan, I bought his Trouble albums back in the 1980s. I must give While Heaven Wept’s Tom Phillips 100 percent credit for Cruz Del Sur Music being able to release Eric’s solo album. Eric really put all himself, his passion, his deepest emotions and his skills into this release. I must also thank Mike and Ron Holzner for the extremely mature talk we had after Eric’s passing. His loss has been a tragic event and we hope that this album gives justice to his career.”

Tom Phillips:

“I’d say this album is an amalgamation of Trouble, Blackfinger, LID and The Skull. There’s a little bit of each all swirled together. Basically, there’s a little something for everyone!”

“There’s no doubt that he will be rightly remembered as one of the most iconic voices of metal — not just doom metal considering he had the power to traverse anything he sang over from psychedelic to somber, from acoustic tenderness to bone-crushing metal. Of course, he’ll always be tied to the legacy of TROUBLE and thus, considered by nearly everyone — including myself — as one of the founding fathers of the doom metal genre. But for those who knew him, we’ll also never forget his laid-back personality, sense of humor and ‘Eric-isms.’ It’s a staggering and totally unnecessary loss, but he lived by his own rules and spent 2021 doing all of the things he loved doing the most, so there’s some solace in that.”

David Snyder:

“He was excited about the songs. He and I worked on this project for a little over four years. It took that long, mostly because we did it over the phone. Either he would be in Chicago or New Mexico, and I’m in West Virginia, so I’d send him demo riffs, and if he liked something, he’d give me arrangement ideas, and I’d re-demo to fit his vision to place the lyrics. I already miss the process of working with him! Before Eric left for the last The Skull tour this summer, he told me about the record and said, ‘It jams. I’m turning it into Cruz.'”

“He was a friend to everyone he met. He always would hang out with fans and, through his music, helped a lot of people through tough times, including myself. His lyrics were always thought-provoking and his voice was one of a kind. When you heard it, you knew it was Eric Wagner! Ultimately, his legacy to me is his work with Trouble. I am eternally grateful to have been close to him at times, to have finished this record and to have worked with what many call the ‘Godfather of Doom.'”

Mike Smith:

“We have guests representing every band Eric has worked with over the years, and even extended family member Victor Griffin, which really brings things full circle. This was not the original plan by any means, but as the process started to unfold, it became apparent that this was exactly how it should be. How it was meant to be.”

“Eric was a dear friend, and I miss him immensely. This solo album became so much more than we initially expected, and I hope fans will be able to listen with open hearts and realize how lucky we all were to have Eric in our lives.

When Eric and I signed off on the album back in July and delivered it to Cruz Del Sur Music, Eric said something I will never forget: ‘If this were to be my last one, it’s a perfect final chapter to the story.'”

Ron Holzner:

“The LID record [1997’s ‘In The Mushroom’] was a break from Trouble and his first tastes of freedom. The Blackfinger records were more of a sideband to express himself differently than THE SKULL. It’s been a long journey lyrically for Eric and his story was coming towards the end. He sensed his time was short. The new record was his career coming full circle, in a sense. He included musicians from all his records and never intended this record to be a band. It was more a solo record than anything he ever did before. He needed to share his journey since this record was to be the end — he was contemplating retirement. The new The Skull record would be the epitaph to his story.”

“He did what he wanted, said what he wanted, lived like he wanted and wrote what he wanted…his way. He touched a lot of souls with his life and death.”

[via Blabbermouth]