US metallers WHILE HEAVEN WEPT have issued the following update from Tom Phillips (guitar, keyboards, vocals):

"Today is the day! The Vast Oceans Lachrymose CD is now officially available in the USA for purchase! Please contact us if you have any troubles finding it - I know our distributor has sent out copies to all accounts, but also has more stock on hand.

To those in the EU: The album will be out on Friday as scheduled, and copies have been sent to all the distributors affiliated with Cruz Del Sur Music over there!

Pre-order discount pricing will remain in effect through the Cruz Del Sur Music store up until the November 6th EU release date, and I've now confirmed that the shirts we had made specifically for CDSM turned out spectacular (you can even find an example in our MySpace photo albums in the tagged photos section - thanks Soma!)

Regarding the LP version coming soon through Maniacal Records... we've just approved the art proofs, and already gave the thumbs up to the test pressings... manufacturing will proceed on time, and we're looking at a tentative shipping date from the pressing plant to Maniacal of November 11th, so LP's will most certainly arrive here before Thanksgiving (November 26th). I know some people have expressed concerns about whether or not the label has received your reservation emails, and I can assure you that they have... additionally, I've requested that 50 copies be set aside to cover everyone I know who has mentioned wanting a copy!

Lastly, to the torrent sites and downloaders - the band and our label are aware that you've made our album available, and I suppose I should thank you for at least waiting until the US release date, but I want you to keep something in mind - WHW is 100% self-financed... this album, like all prior, was paid for out of our own pockets. It isn't a matter of stealing from a record company with a huge budget, it's taking directly from us.

I understand the nature of things in the industry now, and rest assured we'll do whatever we can to stop this practice whenever we can, however futile in may seem... that said, those who do choose to download the album... please consider this: if you like the album, please purchase it legitimately in one format or another... it is meant to be heard a specific way (complete) with the highest possible sound-quality (not 192 kbps mp3's). Alternatively, buy one of the extremely beautiful shirts we've had produced. If you don't like the album, please delete the files rather than re-seeding them, or at least pass them on to someone who WOULD appreciate them.

We put up almost the entire album here streaming for free in an effort to accomodate those who wanted to "try before they buy" - please consider this gesture.

Further, if you are truly a friend or fan (or potential), it is absolutely essential that we pay off the huge debt incurred by us personally... otherwise, we will not be able to record the Fear Of Infinity album in any amount of time less than what it took to complete Vast Oceans Lachrymose - and in fact, whether or not we even are able to record "FOI" largely depends upon the sales of "VOL" and related merch entirely.

Thanks to those who have supported us all these years, for those in the media who've garnished "VOL" with truly flattering and humbling accolades, and to those who are neither that will at least consider what I've said here.

More news soon!"

More on the band, including their live schedule, at this location.