Greatest Funeral Doom Albums of All Time

[slapguitarer]

Originally Posted by Rocco44

Ahab is essential.

This

[hb420]

Asunder - A Clarion Call
(Life Is Abuse, 2004)

This album as I have stated before, is without a doubt the most heavy and punishing funeral doom album I have ever heard. It never loses its atmospherics while focusing mainly thundering riffs including a glorious guitar solo, earthquake inducing bass lines, and heavy handed precise drumming. I love all three tracks, each one spectacularly showing why doom metal in general is so awesome.



Skepticism - Lead and Aether
(Red Stream Inc., 1998)

Finland's Skepticism managed to top their tremendous debut "Stormcrowfleet" with the sophomore masterpiece titled "Lead and Aether". It's probably my favorite release of the older funeral doom bands. While it keeps the slow pace most funeral doom manages to maintain. The use of the keyboards here are the best I've heard in this type of music. They add a level of versatility to the melancholic music to keep it from reaching repetitiveness. The first half of the album is stronger than the second, with opener "The Oraganium" and "The Falls" being the highlights.

[MetalIsArt]

Originally Posted by ravenheart

So...proper doom, then?

Pay attention to my thread

I'll check it out

[illuminatus917]

Originally Posted by Rocco44

Definitely disagree, although I don't listen to much of the genre. Ahab is essential. Not a lazy band.

The Call of the Wretched Sea is one of the greatest doom albums ever. Not just funeral doom...

[hb420]

Originally Posted by illuminatus917

The Call of the Wretched Sea is one of the greatest doom albums ever. Not just funeral doom...

I think this album is a bit better



Ahab - The Divinity of the Oceans
(Napalm Records, 2009)

Ahab's debut record was a phenomenal example of how you do funeral doom right. With their sophomore release which followed three years later, Ahab brought what should be extreme doom in general to an entire different level. Starting with the first song "Yet Another Raft of the Medusa (Pollard's Weakness)" which sounds the most like their other record. You could start making out some differences, the production is a little cleaner, the ambient parts are shortened, the drums are more technical, and the magnificent clean vocals that start out as mostly background vocals. Eventually worm their way to at least half of the entire lead vocals on the album. Along with riffs becoming a lot meatier, more in the vein of death metal at points. They no longer drone for long lengths, instead you get a much stronger sense of dynamics. Making nothing last longer than it should, and making every second and riff count. I would say this is probably the second most accessible album on this list next to Loss. I love this album I a lot, it's pretty much flawless. If I would have to pick a highlight though it would have to be "Redemption Lost". It has an absolutely dreamy shoe-gaze/post feel to it, that makes it standout heads and shoulders above most funeral doom for its uplifting atmosphere. One last thing their lyrics are awesome, and made me look into the story of the Essex. It's really interesting stuff.


EDIT: They have a new album this next year, can't come soon enough Will definitely be high on my list next year.

[hb420]

Mournful Congregation - The Monad of Creation
(Weird Truth Productions, 2005)

Mournful Congregation, while not having the claim to the greatest funeral doom album in my eyes are definitely the most consistent band in the genre. Staring from their first record onward to this year's "The Book of Kings". The band has released four epic records of majestic and ethereal funeral doom. The clear cut winner out of the four though is their second, "The Monad of Creation". It's overflowing with melancholia and despair, desolating anything in its path. Huge glacial riffing over deep bowel releasing growls it literally downs you in a sea of pitch black darkness. The acoustic flourishes are of the highest order as well, and just make the atmosphere that more vibrant. As in the third track "When The Weeping Dawn Beheld Its Mortal Thirst", which is a completely breathtaking instrumental that alleviates from the other songs negativity if only for its running time. Highly recommended, quality funeral doom that never becomes a burden even for genre beginners.



Funeral - Tristesse
(Wild Rag Records, 1994)

The first funeral doom album I heard (doom metal in general as well for that matter), to this day I still hold it in high regard. I remember being blown away by its sheer heaviness and how incredibly slow it was. Another one where I absolutely cannot pick a favorite, the entire album is really good. It's more death/doom than a funeral doom record but its where the genre originated along with Thergothon so I think it counts.

[DethMaiden]

Originally Posted by hb420

I think this album is a bit better



Ahab - The Divinity of the Oceans
(Napalm Records, 2009)

Ahab's debut record was a phenomenal example of how you do funeral doom right. With their sophomore release which followed three years later, Ahab brought what should be extreme doom in general to an entire different level. Starting with the first song "Yet Another Raft of the Medusa (Pollard's Weakness)" which sounds the most like their other record. You could start making out some differences, the production is a little cleaner, the ambient parts are shortened, the drums are more technical, and the magnificent clean vocals that start out as mostly background vocals. Eventually worm their way to at least half of the entire lead vocals on the album. Along with riffs becoming a lot meatier, more in the vein of death metal at points. They no longer drone for long lengths, instead you get a much stronger sense of dynamics. Making nothing last longer than it should, and making every second and riff count. I would say this is probably the second most accessible album on this list next to Loss. I love this album I a lot, it's pretty much flawless. If I would have to pick a highlight though it would have to be "Redemption Lost". It has an absolutely dreamy shoe-gaze/post feel to it, that makes it standout heads and shoulders above most funeral doom for its uplifting atmosphere. One last thing their lyrics are awesome, and made me look into the story of the Essex. It's really interesting stuff.


EDIT: They have a new album this next year, can't come soon enough Will definitely be high on my list next year.

Raft of the Medusa is maybe my favorite painting ever. Must have stared at it for two hours at the Louvre.

This album is pretty good, too.

[ravenheart]

Originally Posted by hb420

Funeral - Tristesse
(Wild Rag Records, 1994)

Apart from the fact that I read that as "Wild Fag Records", the new band called Funeral are SO much better.

[MetalIsArt]

Originally Posted by ravenheart

Apart from the fact that I read that as "Wild Fag Records", the new band called Funeral are SO much better.

True doom?

[ravenheart]

Originally Posted by MetalIsArt

True doom?

Indeed they are, albeit quite slow.