ALBUM REVIEW: Funebrarum – Beckoning the Void of Eternal Silence

New Jersey death metal titans Funebrarum return with their long-awaited third album, ten years since their last release (the excellent “Exhumation of the Ancient” MLP). This new opus will be unleashed by Doomentia Records, Pulverised Records, Morbid Wrath Records and Medieval Darkness on May 29th.

Opening with this wintery ambience and symphonic sections; this is not the beginning I would have expected from a band like Funebrarum. Following this we return to the gloomy, sepulchral death metal that the band is known as one of the strongest creators of. Slow churning riffs and pummelled kicks bring the style of Deteriorot, Rottrevore, Abhorrence, Demigod and so on into the fold while the keyboards add this blackened cinematic touch. Blasting away, the ferocious drumming of Charlie Koryn, one of the best in death metal, is masterfully precise and yet full of life. Daryl’s gargantuan snarling vocals cut through gloriously and the strings of Phil, Samuel and Winslow hold the barbaric quality to the highest standard. A lot of the hallmarks of the band’s former releases are present in the varied blend of convulsive slower death metal mixed with more aggressive sections and a lot of heavy, dense grooves. It does feel a bit more like they are trying to break further out of the mold with the heightened use of synths and lead work but still keeping true to the band’s craft which has been ongoing since 1999. It definitely feels like Phil Tougas’ virtuosic musicianship (as we know it from many bands across the metallic spectrum such as Zeicrydeus, Exxul, Worm and more) has definitely rubbed off on Funebrarum. Not to say any reinvention has occurred, but they have certainly utilised the new lineup’s strengths.

For me the most important factor of a Funebrarum record is that bellowing, gruesome, morbid and massive sounding death metal full of atmospheric and ferocity. This is present in heaps. Sure the grittier early records might appeal more to some, I adore those too, but “Beckoning the Void of Eternal Silence” also shows a maturing that complements the band’s unwavering discography. From the LPs to the EPs and splits everything has felt of a certain high level of quality. This album does not let that slide. Some of the vocals feel a bit more akin to Demilich’s Antti, which suits the more Finnish vein of gloomy death metal and its influence on Funebrarum, perfectly. Speaking of Demilich, the more angular riffing certainly feels close to these Finnish titans and gives a strange but cool dynamic to the cavernous bludgeoning assaults. The highly detailed shredding solos, to me, are killer. Perhaps a bit more technical than the mood of the album requires but they are so triumphantly cool that it just works. The combination of less-is-more with the more elaborate passages on this new LP shows Funebrarum are capable of doing something new and rather than rehash their unmistakably killer discography; they put something new into the mix and it works in their favour.

Eight songs, plus an intro, interlude and outro, across which we experience dynamic death metal full of doom and funereal atmospherics but also punchy, hard-hitting and masterfully executed faster parts. There is groove and memorability but also those charnel feelings of unease. Simply put; this is a Funebrarum record with a bit of everything that showcases the band’s abilities from 1999 to present with a brand new tome of total obliteration. These American fiends definitely channel the Finnish spirit in their music alongside US legends like Incantation, Rottrevore and the like. As always, they nail this mix wherein old legends provide influence and contort into a new being of macabre form. A wintery album released during a heatwave (at least here in England at the time of writing) is a welcome icy spearhead through a sweaty and humid atmosphere. The flow of this record, especially in the way the riffs, vocals and drums fit together, is gripping and will certainly hold your focus. Clearly it is the result of a lot of hard work but also highly skilled and seasoned musicians working together toward a common goal of total death metal supremacy.

A slaughtering opus from Funebrarum whom continue to uphold the old school of death metal without repeating themselves. Keeping the gloom, heaviness and extremity of their prior works and adding a more three-dimensional approach without losing the grit; “Beckoning the Void of Eternal Silence” is a crushing record. Fans of death-doom will certainly adore this one as it really has that epic and mournful sound that bands like Hooded Menace perfected. Perhaps the synths might put some off, but I think they are done tastefully and not over-the-top. This one has been heavily anticipated so definitely check it out for yourselves!