ITP V.021 REVIEW: SKEPTICISM: "COMPANION"

 

 

 BAND:  SKEPTICISM (FINLAND)

GENRE- FUNERAL DOOM/DEATH, DOOM

LABEL: SVART RECORDS

RELEASE DATE: 9/24/2021

TITLE:  "COMPANION" 

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) : 

 

"ORDEAL", 9/18/2015 via SVART RECORDS. 

"ALLOY", 10/20/2008 via RED STREAM INC. 

"FARMAKON", 2003, via RED STREAM INC. 

"THE PROCESS OF FARMAKON" (EP), 2002 via  RED STREAM INC. 

"AES", (EP), 1999 via RED STREAM INC. 

"LEAD and AETHER", 1998 via RED STREAM INC.
"ETHERE" (EP), 1997 via RED STREAM INC. 

"STORMCROWFLEET", 1995 via RED STREAM INC.

 

 

 

BEST RELEASE (S): "COMPANION" (2021), "STORMCROWFLEET" (1995), "ALLOY" (2008), "FARMAKON" (2003)

 
 

 

 

 

 

SKEPTICISM: "COMPANION"  TRACK-LISTING:

 1. "CALLA"

2. "THE INTERTWINED" 

3. "THE MARCH OF THE FOUR"

4. "PASSAGE"

5. "THE INEVITABLE" 

6. "THE SWAN AND THE RAVEN"

ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****

SKEPTICISM are the pioneers of the extreme metal sub genre known as funeral doom. Formed in Finland in 1991, SKEPTICISM  released "STORMCROWFLEET" (1995), an influential release in funeral doom. 

After a hiatus, SKEPTICISM returned to the scene and released the excellent  "ORDEAL" in 2015. 

Here ITP V.021 has SKEPTICISM'S new release ."COMPANION". 

 SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" kicks off with "CALLA", a majestic track with traces of Finland's trademark melodic doom... Beautiful keyboards adorn "CALLA", almost symphonic in her glory and very emotive. 

 SKEPTICISM'S "THE INTERTWINED" , enters at a snails pace, as beautiful textures wash over your soul as MATTI TILAEUS'S vocals summons mournful emotions. I love the piano in this track, very organic. 

.SKEPTICISM'S "THE MARCH OF THE FOUR" is the longest track on "COMPANION" clocking in over 10 minutes. . "THE MARCH OF THE FOUR" enters with beautiful church organ, and sparse percussion,  perfect for funeral doom..MATTI TILAEUS'S vocals guide listeners through a slow journey as symphonic keyboards seep in with guitar melting lost souls. . .At 7:50, "THE MARCH OF THE FOUR" features crushing guitar chords marking every last step of the "march" in all the mournful beauty.  

.SKEPTICISM'S  "PASSAGE" features some dazzling rhythm guitar painting a dark atmosphere...  "PASSAGE" morphs into an epic mid paced death doom track with progressive tendencies as guitars and keyboards dance together... 

 .SKEPTICISM'S "THE INEVITABLE" enters with an acoustic melody and keyboards before morphing into some vicious melodic, funeral doom. ."THE INEVITABLE" paints both a devastating and beautiful atmosphere of despair and longing.       

 .SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION"  closes with "THE SWAN AND THE RAVEN" as the track enters with  majestic, symphonic funeral doom, sparse and effective in execution."THE SWAN AND THE RAVEN" continues with classic Finnish melodic, doom metal riffing before the floor drops emoting the most mournful and beautiful funeral doom. .  

 

 SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" is one the most underrated and one of my favorite releases of 2021. 

 SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" features improved production with guitars intentionally  lower in the mix in favor of keyboards and organs. In fact, guitars are sparse on  SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" as to not get in the way of the lush keyboards. However,  when guitars are played,  it's an emphatic statement, or exclamation mark complimenting  beautiful symphonic orchestrations. 

 SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" features some awesome songwriting as their is enough variety to keep you drenched in an atmosphere of  despair and darkness. 

SKEPTICISM'S  "COMPANION" is a warm blanket on these unsettling times. A soundtrack to your last days when all hope is lost. 

. 

 ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****

 

. SKEPTICISM: "COMPANION" 

https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2021/09/skepticism-streaming-companion-via.html

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 

 

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-