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Funeralium - Decrepit review




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Reviewer:
9.0

27 users:
7.52
Band: Funeralium
Album: Decrepit
Release date: October 2021


01. Aviditas
02. Ruination
03. The Lunatic Escalation Towards Extinction
04. The Terminal Purge

While discussing the state of the environment, comedian George Carlin said: “The planet isn’t going anywhere. WE ARE. We’re going away. Pack your shit, folks”. With Decrepit, Funeralium isn’t just portraying humanity’s misery caused by its own hand. They also relish at the mere thought of a world devoid of people. Anger and bitterness has created a type of hope driven by visions of a barren Earth.

"We all just care about our own navel, nothing else matters
All these lukewarm reforms have built our own tombs."


Formed almost two decades ago and with four releases under their belt, the French extreme doomsters take their sweet time with each opus. The last time the patient fans were rewarded was with the colossal Of Throes And Blight. Over 90 minutes of what the band best described already with the title of their 2004 demo: Ultra Sick Doom. It was a maelstrom of negative emotions that completely engulfed the listener with its gargantuan compositions that distorted the sense of time and space. How can you possibly continue after releasing such an album? Apparently Funeralium are in possession of a bottomless well of sheer willpower. How can you write songs this long and make them coherent? It must take nerves of steel to be able to endure such a songwriting process. The dedication to such craft is what lies behind these inspiring compositions. With a sound and characteristics of their very own, it is about time Funeralium are promptly recognized by all as one of the heavy-hitters within extreme doom metal.

"No one took even half-measures, no one would consent to make small sacrifices.
We have always scheduled for tomorrow what should have been done yesterday,
Leaving this self-created burden to the new generations to come."


The album kicks off with industrial noises that agonizingly build up into one disturbing hell-hole. Black metal elements manifest themselves through painful walls of riffs. These climaxes are reached in such an organic and genuine way that it almost seems improvised. The band clearly know what sections need to keep on going and further develop, or what to change, or when to release. All sections flow freely and logically with well-placed moments of quietness. This is one of Funeralium’s biggest strengths and what sets them apart from most bands. It is really hard to maintain this menacing and ugly atmosphere during the quiet sections, but they don't seem to have any problems keeping that vibe. With the help of silence and a perfect production, the bass and drums alone produce such a tense, rich and dark atmosphere that truly grabs you and refuses to let go. Melodious riffs and leads come far in-between but they are just too painful and sorrowful to bring any form of light to hold onto.

"Never satisfied, always dribbling, greed and envy will forever lead.
Make the earth bleed, soil it shamelessly, run it dry until it will gulp you down."


There is simply no beauty or tranquillity to be had throughout the whole album. This is further ensured once the vocals appear. The shrieks, howls, growls and even some light use of clean vocals are so full of bitterness and hatred. It is a suffocating endeavor and one hell of a performance by all throats involved. Funeralium make sure the message rings loud and clear, as the lyrics are for the most part perfectly understandable despite the nature of these cries. These are not protests songs as much as they are judgement songs. The bleak, misanthropist lyrics paint a painfully true image of our unfair world. Of the mayhem we create and the frustration that is seeing humanity kill itself through greed and poor thinking.

"An infinity of dead seas...
No more vice, no more greed, it’s so soothing here.
No more gods, no more faith, it’s so peaceful here."


Decrepit is perhaps Funeralium’s least nasty album both song- and lyric-wise. However, instead it punishes the listener with hateful tunes that flow in a very naked, honest way. The songwriting and choice of track lengths was perfectly chosen. The opener “Aviditas” prepares the listener for the two main courses, while “The Terminal Purge” is perhaps one of the most cathartic outros achieved in modern doom metal and re-affirms the devastating nature of the middle tracks. Hate, mourning, anger, anxiety, disgust, impotence and a final sense of acceptance. It’s all too palpable, too real.

"...In a few hundred years Earth will be mended."

There is a promise for a better tomorrow. It just won’t involve us.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 10
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 8
Production: 10





Written on 16.11.2021 by A lazy reviewer but he is so cute you'd forgive him for it.


Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 34 users
23.11.2021 - 01:38
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
'kin hell this is monstrous. the album, not the review. they don't fuck around, kicks right off sounding horrid. Only got through the first 20-25 on first crack - had a good weekend, friends in town, lots of craft beer, lots of smiles - and not at all a doom frame of mind. will check back on it.

disappointed at the tumbleweeds in the comment section, a rare Rod review and high rating should draw some eyebrows.
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get the fuck off my lawn.

Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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23.11.2021 - 15:32
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by BitterCOld on 23.11.2021 at 01:38

Only got through the first 20-25 on first crack - had a good weekend, friends in town, lots of craft beer, lots of smiles - and not at all a doom frame of mind. will check back on it.


Oh, you have quite the journey left then! I think the ending will surprise you. It releases all the tension that has been built up through a beautiful (for them) crescendo. Like I Said… Not their nastiest but definitely their most bitter and sorrowful.

Just a few hours ago I came home to find this one and their previous in my mailbox. Might skip them for a while considering it’s gonna be my bday soon haha!
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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24.11.2021 - 12:26
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by BitterCOld on 23.11.2021 at 01:38


Thought you should see this before your future listening of this beast of an album. It's the last line in the booklet. Damn frogs making me sad again.

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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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24.11.2021 - 12:38
Deadsoulman

Written by X-Ray Rod on 24.11.2021 at 12:26

Written by BitterCOld on 23.11.2021 at 01:38


Thought you should see this before your future listening of this beast of an album. It's the last line in the booklet. Damn frogs making me sad again.




Damn I think I remember him saying that he got along very well with them and that they crashed at his place a few times when touring in the Netherlands. Goes to show again what kind of person he was.
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24.11.2021 - 12:41
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Deadsoulman on 24.11.2021 at 12:38

Damn I think I remember him saying that he got along very well with them and that they crashed at his place a few times when touring in the Netherlands. Goes to show again what kind of person he was.


One can only feel most humble as a metalhead or as a reviewer/journalist/metal personality. To make that kind of impact just speaks volume's of Marcel's persona. Fantastic human being.
I know he would have loved this album to bits.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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24.11.2021 - 14:51
Deadsoulman

Written by X-Ray Rod on 24.11.2021 at 12:41


I know he would have loved this album to bits.


And with good reason. This is a monstrous release to which your review really does justice.
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