Ian Arkley

Ian Arkley is a guitarist in the death/doom/gothic metal genre, his current band is the UK gothic doom metal outfit My Silent Wake.^[1]

Arkley first gained attention as a member (and leader) of seminal Christian thrash metal band Seventh Angel.^[2] Signed to Under One Flag Seventh Angel released first album The Torment, and later Lament for the Weary album.

After Seventh Angel split, Arkley formed Ashen Mortality adopting a doomier style mixed with mediaeval influences and some death vocals. Ashen Mortality released two self released albums Sleepless Remorse and Your Caress.^[3]

Arkley was briefly a member of the Australian doom outfit Paramaecium, and recorded the album A Time to Mourn with them. Ashen Mortality split in the autumn of 2004, playing their last gig on Halloween of that year. With two of the members in the final line-up of Ashen Mortality, Arkley formed My Silent Wake. MSW recorded a two song demo in mid-2005, and the limited 100 copy run sold out almost immediately, and resulted in a record deal with indie label Bombworks Records. MSW released their first full length album Shadow of Sorrow on Bombworks Records in spring 2006.^[4] Drawing on similar influences to Ashen Mortality, My Silent Wake is a more experimental progression for Arkley, with more open soundscape arrangements, but also a heavier aspect to the sound. MSW went on to record a further three albums and a split album with The Drowning. The band are still active.

Arkley recorded two albums with the space rock band The Other Window.

Arkley is also involved in a collaboration with the Visionaire frontman in a band called Century Sleeper who released Awaken in 2006.^[5]

Seventh Angel later reformed in 2008, and released the album "The Dust of Years" in 2009, which saw the band take a more Death/Doom approach to their previous style.

Since 2010 Ian has also been involved with the industrial/darkwave band Attrition, contributing guitar. During this time, Ian has also been active with MSW.

References