November is Doom- Fvneral Fvkk : "Indecent Idol"

This German band is impressive, as they play a traditonal form of doom that comes from the darker side of what Candlemass does, but with more grace. I review hundreds of metal albums, and it is rare that I get to the second song and start downloading the album, as that is how sure I am of the fact that this is something I am going to really listen to. This is since I already own a great deal of music, and metal tends to be a bit redundant depending on the genre, and most of the time I alreaddy have a band that I am locked into, so it's common for me to write, "that while I like this, chances are when I am in the mood to listen to this and am going to just put on... insert the name of the band depending on the genre here. 

What these guys do is original, but that is not to say there are not already bands that I like who have done this sort of thing. It just happens that those bands are not doing it at present, Solitude Aeturnus, or they have moved away from this and now play another style of music, Pallbearer. These guys hit just in time to fill that void for me. Speaking of voids, this band features members of the band Voidhaven.

 The superb vocals are a key selling point, along with the dark mood. 

Conceptually, they are cool as they focus on the many crimes of the Catholic Church, primarily the sexual abuse of children that has gone unanswered. The sample at the beginning of "Hidden Threnody" is from a documentary andd sets the tone for the ominous riffage to come. The croon for this is a little more introspective. "The Beasts of Speyer" opens with clean guitar and a more solemn, hymn-like tone. He was the lyrics finds the notes being the empahsis over the articulation , so it's not like the stories are in your face. I would be interested in sitting down and reading them with more focus. 

"Bishop of the Iron Guard " might have the coolest riff, as it's picked out in a more syncopated manner.  The guitar simmers more when it is setting things up for the vocals to come in. This is also the first that builds into a more thundering double bass section and allows the dynamics to take dynamic shifts with the most interesting arrangement yet. "Leichsynode" carries a heavier, doomier chug, though the vocal lines wander more and are not as catchy; it might just need repeat listens for it to click

"Even in Death" is a little more on the melodic side, though leaning further into the melancholy. This is another one that might reuire a couple of listens to fully absorb, as it works off a similar mournful throb as other points we have heard on the album; still, this is doom, so that can be expected and I think they do a great job of capturing an honest emotion here, rather than just checking off booxes to bring the expected sounds of the genre. I will give this one a 10. One of the best doom albums of the year for sure. 

5.9

pst551