Wedding Party is a Goth Hard Rock band from Nashville, Tennessee that formed back in the late 1990's. Wedding Party flew under the radar for most of us and didn't receive the attention that they really deserved. When it comes to their sound, WP is one of those bands that doesn't want to be pigeonholed into just one music style. This, in essence, makes it a difficult task to label them under one specific genre. Wedding Party is a Goth Hard Rock band that incorporates Epic-Symphonic touches, Industrial, Alternative, and Progressive elements into their arrangements. The band takes the idea for their moniker from text found in Revelation 19:7-9 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."
The following verses can be found in the band's liner notes on the inner sleeve of their album cover: "O death, where is thy victory, O grave, where is thy sting" (I Corinthians 15:55) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son That whosoever believeth in Him shall not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
In 1998 Wedding Party released their debut full-length album simply titled 'Anthems' on MCM Music. 'Anthems' was produced by world renowned artist-Eric Clayton of Saviour Machine. The album was recorded by Gus Gaches & Nathan Van Hala at both 'His Studios' in Nashville, Tenn & 'Malineum Productions' in Ontario, California. In 1998 the recording was mixed by Wihart & Skye at 'Strawberry Studios'. The record was then mastered by Ken Love at Mastermix in Nashville, Tenn. The album's dark cover-art was done by Joshua of 'Inline Design' in Germany.
As noted earlier, there are a wide range of music styles featured on this release with a number of hard hittin' Symphonic Goth tracks within the first half of the album. However, in the album's latter half, the mood changes to a more somber softer piano driven arrangements not unlike that found on various Saviour Machine albums. Without question, there's a little something for everyone here on Wedding Party's 1998 release.
Some tracks that stand out on this record includes track-2 "War Memorial", track-3 "Even You", track-6 "To The Unknown God", track-7 "Dürbuckett", track-8 "Crystal River", track-9 "Lamb", track-10 "No More Night",
track-11 "Bury The Dead", track-12 "Omega".
As noted earlier, there are a wide range of music styles featured on this release with a number of hard hittin' Symphonic Goth tracks within the first half of the album. However, in the album's latter half, the mood changes to a more somber softer piano driven arrangements not unlike that found on various Saviour Machine albums. Without question, there's a little something for everyone here on Wedding Party's 1998 release.
Some tracks that stand out on this record includes track-2 "War Memorial", track-3 "Even You", track-6 "To The Unknown God", track-7 "Dürbuckett", track-8 "Crystal River", track-9 "Lamb", track-10 "No More Night",
track-11 "Bury The Dead", track-12 "Omega".
The full track-list for 'Anthems' includes 1.Prelude 2.War Memorial 3.Even You 4.Raven's Warning 5.Alliance 6.To the Unknown God 7.Durbuckett 8.Crystal River 9.Lamb 10.No More Night 11.Bury The Dead 12.Omega.
Lead vocals are handled by Sheri Watters and William Watters who both have some strong solid performances at times throughout the album. In addition, the album features some backing vocals by none other than Goth vocalist-Eric Clayton of the band Saviour Machine. The tracks that Clayton contributed backing vocals on includes "Even You", "Alliance", "Crystal River", and "Omega".
The album's lyrics are encouraging and evangelical as one can see in the following excerpts:
"War Memorial"
The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God
To the pulling down of strongholds
The Peace of God, when the battle’s won
All my tears are caught by the Holy One
We must stand until the end
We must stand until the end
"Even You"
And now my eyes are open wide
I see how you really are
Once a prince, now a murderer of souls
A dark and falling star
Please, please, please, please
And even you must bow down to Jesus, King of Kings
While casting down your tattered crown
At His nail scarred feet
And even you must bow down to Jesus, King of Kings
Even you must bow down
"Alliance"
He’s the only way out of here
He shed His blood
He shed His blood
He shed His blood
Come to the Alliance
"To The Unknown God"
To the unknown God
From the Mosque to the Parthenon
Where are their gods?
Stone cold, dead, embossed
I’ve been to the Cross
Where you Suffered and Satan lost
You covered me in blood, wiped away the dross
And I will serve no other god
"Durbuckett"
You captured me and bought my soul
Where You lead me I will go
And in Your presence I fall to my knees
Just in knowing who You are
My tears - they wash Your feet
For You have forgiven me
Your blood - it washed my sin
So I could begin again
And You love me, You do not leave
And nobody can take that away from me
"Crystal River"
I can hear the angels sing and now I understand
I enter the gates of Heaven holding Jesus’ hand
Look, there’s Daddy, and the animals talk
And the lion lays down with the lamb
Now I stand by the crystal river
In the bosom of Abraham
I will live forever
With the First Born of the Dead
I will live forever
With the First Born of the Dead
I will live forever
I will live forever
"Bury The Dead"
Lord, I’m walking
And I’m not taking anything with me
And I’m on this road
And the voices are calling but I’m not listening
And I’m not alone
For there are those who are coming with me
And I’m on my way home
When everything’s left unsaid
Let the dead bury the dead
Oh, we’re almost done
The Spirit and the Bride say
“Come . . . marry me.”
Marry me
The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God
To the pulling down of strongholds
The Peace of God, when the battle’s won
All my tears are caught by the Holy One
We must stand until the end
We must stand until the end
"Even You"
And now my eyes are open wide
I see how you really are
Once a prince, now a murderer of souls
A dark and falling star
Please, please, please, please
And even you must bow down to Jesus, King of Kings
While casting down your tattered crown
At His nail scarred feet
And even you must bow down to Jesus, King of Kings
Even you must bow down
"Alliance"
He’s the only way out of here
He shed His blood
He shed His blood
He shed His blood
Come to the Alliance
"To The Unknown God"
To the unknown God
From the Mosque to the Parthenon
Where are their gods?
Stone cold, dead, embossed
I’ve been to the Cross
Where you Suffered and Satan lost
You covered me in blood, wiped away the dross
And I will serve no other god
"Durbuckett"
You captured me and bought my soul
Where You lead me I will go
And in Your presence I fall to my knees
Just in knowing who You are
My tears - they wash Your feet
For You have forgiven me
Your blood - it washed my sin
So I could begin again
And You love me, You do not leave
And nobody can take that away from me
"Crystal River"
I can hear the angels sing and now I understand
I enter the gates of Heaven holding Jesus’ hand
Look, there’s Daddy, and the animals talk
And the lion lays down with the lamb
Now I stand by the crystal river
In the bosom of Abraham
I will live forever
With the First Born of the Dead
I will live forever
With the First Born of the Dead
I will live forever
I will live forever
"Bury The Dead"
Lord, I’m walking
And I’m not taking anything with me
And I’m on this road
And the voices are calling but I’m not listening
And I’m not alone
For there are those who are coming with me
And I’m on my way home
When everything’s left unsaid
Let the dead bury the dead
Oh, we’re almost done
The Spirit and the Bride say
“Come . . . marry me.”
Marry me
In 1999 Wedding Party had a couple of songs that made their way onto a compilation promo-album titled 'Music for the Next Millennium Volume I' released on MCM Music. The two songs included on the compilation were "War Memorial" and "Bury The Dead". 'Music for the Next Millennium Volume I' featured Narnia, Saviour Machine, Wedding Party, Pastor Dave Hart, Eva O, and Rackets & Drapes. The album was recorded Live at Christmas Rock Night in Ennepetal, Germany in December of 1998. The recording was mastered by Eric Clayton(Saviour Machine) and Mark Hannah at Magic Rat Music.
Wedding Party is for fans of Goth and Symphonic Rock oriented music. If you are into diverse music styles that can go from soft to edgy then you are going to love what Wedding Party has brought to the table with their 1998 'Anthems' release.
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
William J. Watters - Vocals, Guitars
Sheri Luckey Watters - Vocals
Jamie McCavanaugh - Guitars, Piano
John Williams - Bass
Chad Hall - Piano, Keyboards, Percussion
Kenneth Lemery - Keyboards
Libby Luckey - Backing Vocals
Shaun Shidell - Drums
Guest Musicians:
Eric Clayton - Backing Vocals(Saviour Machine)
Todd Fullford - Guitars on "Bury The Dead", "Dürbuckett"
Victor Deaton - Drums on "Alliance", "Raven's Warning"
Chad Hall - Drums-"Bury The Dead", Piano-"War Memorial" & "Lamb"
William J. Watters - Vocals, Guitars
Sheri Luckey Watters - Vocals
Jamie McCavanaugh - Guitars, Piano
John Williams - Bass
Chad Hall - Piano, Keyboards, Percussion
Kenneth Lemery - Keyboards
Libby Luckey - Backing Vocals
Shaun Shidell - Drums
Guest Musicians:
Eric Clayton - Backing Vocals(Saviour Machine)
Todd Fullford - Guitars on "Bury The Dead", "Dürbuckett"
Victor Deaton - Drums on "Alliance", "Raven's Warning"
Chad Hall - Drums-"Bury The Dead", Piano-"War Memorial" & "Lamb"