MY DYING BRIDE (UK)

Lena Abé

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 My Dying Bride has combined forces with our company, proudly using 6 Mayones instruments, including three customized basses for Lena Abé, band's female bass player.

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.

The bass for Lena is our Be Exotic model with Amazaque body and Mahogany-Maple neck in black Gothic finish, equipped with Schaller tuners, active EMG J-J pickups and passive electronics.

The bass was delivered just before My Dying Bride left for M’era Luna Festival in Germany to replace Lena's previous instrument that was lost few weeks ago at one of the European airports. It seems it suits My Dying Bride bass player demands: "I just want to say a massive personal thank you to everyone at Mayones for my bass. It played perfectly on our recent tour and I'm very impressed." You're welcome, Lena. Well... come to the Clan!

Photo credit: Bartosz Sarama / yesternight.pl

At the beginning of 2009 Lena ordered another Mayones bass, this time it was a customized Patriot 5 model. The bass was delivered with EMG 40DC pickups, EMG BQC System active preamp and Ebony fingerboard adorned with big acrylic inlay. The instrument has transparent black back and Flamed Maple top in poisonous transparent green finish.

The first time I set up and turned on, I knew this bass was something special. Its perfectly balanced, feels incredible, looks stunning and sounds unbelievable.

I chose to use the custom shop so that this bass could truly be mine and unique. I wasn't sure how the acrylic inlay would ultimately turn out, but I can't fault it, it looks amazing. The transparent black back and flamed maple top in poisonous transparent green finish were exactly what I'd asked and hoped for.

This bass is a very versatile piece of kit. It can create some serious sounds from atmospheric booms to softer more gentle tones to whatever you want inbetween. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I feel geniunely honored, and proud, everytime I put on my Mayones to do what I love the most.