MY DYING BRIDE (UK)

Andrew Craighan

For almost two decades Songs of Darkness, mournful Cries of Mankind and Dreadful Hours of Bitterness and Bereavement were our only companion through the mysterious lands of darkness and doom... To bring you even darker and afflictive songs, Andrew "Uberdoom" Craighan, a founding member and guitarist of the legends of the doom metal scene, has combined forces with Mayones and became a proud owner of three customized Regius 6 guitars.

Fans and critics hailed the band as pioneers of the new doom-gothic metal genre. Pushing these new boundaries even further, MDB recruited long time session musician and classically trained violin and piano player Martin Powell as a full time member. The result was the second album 'Turn Loose The Swans' (1993) and a very successful huge European tour.

The band kept up the flow by releasing successive titles each year, including but not limited to full-lengths 'The Angel And The Dark River' (1995) and 'Like Gods of the Sun' (1996) – epic works of art, full of sinister glory that MDB was known of, and daringly experimental '34.788%... Complete'.

By 1997 the band were at the very forefront of the advanced metal scene, hailed in the press and with a flurry of like-minded bands following in their shadows, they launched a number of live assault on Europe, culminating in some high profile festival appearances, including the famous Dynamo metal festival in Holland and the 3-month hike around Europe with Iron Maiden. In the same year MDB was invited to the US, where the band received massive support from enthusiastic crowds.

With the new line-up and the new LP 'The Light At The End Of The World' (1999) the band returns to its original style, yet with a whole new perspective on the sound. This album as well as its followers 'The Dreadful Hours' (2001), 'Songs Of Darkness, Words of Light' (2004), 'A Line of Deathless Kings' (2006), several live DVD and compilations, re-affirimed My Dying Brides as the godfathers of doom.

My Dying Bride - For Lise I Sire Line-up

The start of 2007 saw bassist Adrian Jackson and session drummer John Bennett leave the band, and replacements Lena Abé and Dan Mullins were announced prior to the first concerts of the year. The official statement from the band stated that "MDB has a new fresh focused feel to it and we are looking forward to the shows with a vengeance."

Recording of the follow-up to A Line of Deathless Kings began in spring 2008 with work continuing through the Summer. In the meantime My Dying Bride made some extra special festival appearances with the re-introduction of violins, courtesy of new member Katie Stone - an unforeseen highlight for all fans who witnessed the shows, which was then followed by the uniting of the 'Peaceville 3' (MDB, Anathema, Paradise Lost) for 2 special shows to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Paradise Lost. These took place in Paris and London and was an unforgettable occasion for many fans wishing for this line-up for many years.

By this time, work on the album, titled 'For Lies I Sire' was almost fully completed, as the band had spent the previous months at work in Manchester with long-time MDB engineer/producer Mags. The album is set for release March 2009 and is undoubtedly among the band's very best work to date. Featuring some seriously heavy-as-hell sombre doom, 'For Lies I Sire' wades effortlessly and poetically through tales of darkness and gloom, this time textured with the much-anticipated return of the often-missed violin, last featured well over ten years ago. We are happy to inform that the new album of the masters of doom are recorded with Mayones axes, three customized Regius 6 guitars and two pitch black Be basses.

Andy ordered his guitars instantly when Lena had received her two Mayones basses. The guitars for Andy combines standard Regius features: 11 pieces neck-thru-body construction, Ebony fretboard, Flamed Maple top, with his own customization options: EMG pickups and exclusive position markers: sharp razor blades and unique Staff markers, perfectly matching Regius character.

"To be honest I was shocked at the sound quality of the guitar, it is so much more of everything I had." - complements Andy - "I honestly thought I had a great sound before but with the Regius 6 it really brought the sound to life or should I say to Death… and considering they are called Regius SIX I simply had to have 3. Perfectly Evil."

"Incredible build quality too, you can tell it's been built by someone who loves guitars. I can't praise the guitars I have enough, also the personnel at Mayones too are a very professional crew and I'm now proud to be part of it."

"Already started writing the new LP on them but I can't wait to play my first gig with them in Spain at the Atarfe Vega Rock Festival. Thanks Mayones - a job well doomed!"

The beginning of 2010 witnessed the birth of a new war axe for Andy: pitch black Regius 6 with EMG pickups and, for the very first time in the history of this model, red acrylic pearl binding and Staff markers.

Red Torment, my new Regius Custom axe.

Well where do I start? Do I comment on the blacker than black finish that entices light into it’s woesome bleak abyss trapped there to stay without hope, or the exquisite finish so sublime, tempting the weak at heart nearer to their pitiful doom from each trembling touch, the red binding, marking it’s borders for battle ready to engulf the weary who dare to trespass, or the pure crushing misery thundering from the two EMG pickups or equally destructive, the siren song leading the lost to a bitter cold grave all too soon, maybe the custom Devils Horn fret markers a sign of it’s true intent and purpose.

Need I say more... It’s all of the above this guitar is evil at heart, a devilish creation that since it’s inception has sang of the grim demise of my other Mayones guitars.

Pure. Perfect. Precious.