Thee Final Chaptre

With origins dating back to early- to mid-’80s acts Deus Vult and Divine Right, New Orleans, LA’s THEE FINAL CHAPTRE got its start around 1989, when guitarist Gary Wilson was driven to put together a new, more intense and resolute group of musicians. The band laid its foundation performing a mix of covers and originals around area bars, eventually solidifying its lineup with David Osbourn on drums, Paul Starnes handling bass duties, and frontman Andrew “Tripp” Whittington.

Drawing influences from an assortment of hard rock and metal—UFO, Kiss, Queensrÿche, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Exodus, etc.—as well as their Christian metal predecessors such as Stryper, Deliverance, and Tourniquet; THEE FINAL CHAPTRE forged an explosively diverse sound centered around hard-charging guitar riffs, a locked-in rhythm section, and Whittington’s soaring vocal prowess. This ultimately landed the group a deal with WEI Records for the release of their lone six-song album, It Is Written, in 1991.

However—despite capturing the interest of Polygram subsidiary Jaguar Records—due to limited touring opportunities, managerial mishaps, burgeoning creative differences, and the changing landscape of the metal scene, THEE FINAL CHAPTRE had fallen apart before the end of 1992… thus unable to capitalize on the true potential of their songwriting firepower.

But now, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original cassette release through WEI, Divebomb Records is proud to announce—for the first time ever on CD—this expanded edition of THEE FINAL CHAPTRE‘s It Is Written. Sourced directly from the DAT master, the album has been digitally remastered alongside nine previously unreleased live bonus tracks; packaged with updated cover art by Steven Cobb, archival photographs straight from the band, and an all-new interview with founder Gary Wilson conducted by Olaf Becker. For the fans, by the fans!

Inspired by the success of Divebomb Records' 25th anniversary reissue of It Is Written back in 2016, all four original members of THEE FINAL CHAPTRE—drummer David Osbourn, guitarist Gary Michael Wilson, bassist Paul Starnes, and vocalist Tripp Andrews—felt moved to reunite and determine the outcome of creating new music together. Over four years later—and a whopping three decades since their debut—the results are in…

Produced and engineered by Osbourn at SoundBourn Studio in Midlothian, TX, the hour-long So Let It Be Done contains 12 astoundingly powerful cuts that effortlessly capture the vibe of THEE FINAL CHAPTRE's original roots; given a heavier, more modern sound focused on a breadth of songwriting versatility. Speaking to the album's drawn-out creative process, Osbourn states, "All of us live in different cities and states now, so logistics proved to be quite a challenge. Add to that a global pandemic and a multitude of scheduling conflicts, and four years later you have a finished album."

The group's contemplative message also remains intact: "While we recognize that none of us are perfect—quite flawed, actually—we are still men of faith. We wanted to put something out to give the world hope. Hope can be a very powerful thing when you're surrounded by darkness…"

Divebomb Records is excited to once again partner with THEE FINAL CHAPTRE for the CD release of So Let It Be Done. Perfect for fans of Crimson Glory, Sacred Warrior, Queensrÿche, Hittman, etc.; the material will prove without a doubt that time cannot diminish this quartet's fire for thoughtful, progressive power metal.