Funeral doom is a subgenre of doom metal that focuses on slow, heavy, and melancholic sounds. This genre is known for its extremely slow tempos, deep atmospheres, and dark lyrical themes. It’s often the most emotionally intense form of doom metal. Funeral doom music often evokes feelings of despair, sorrow, and hopelessness. It’s a style that appeals to those looking for music that is both cathartic and haunting. In this article, we will explore funeral doom in detail, examining its origins, characteristics, subgenres, and prominent bands.
The Origins of Funeral Doom
Funeral doom is a relatively modern offshoot of doom metal, a genre that itself has its roots in the late 1960s. Doom metal drew from the heavy blues rock sounds of Black Sabbath, who are often credited as the pioneers of the genre. However, funeral doom emerged in the early 1990s as a darker, more atmospheric version of doom metal. Bands like My Dying Bride and Skepticism were early influences in shaping the funeral doom style. Their use of extremely slow tempos and melancholic melodies set the foundation for funeral doom to evolve.
The genre owes its development to the pioneering works of early doom metal bands, but funeral doom takes the slow, brooding sound even further. It is marked by funeral-like pacing, heavy riffs, and oppressive atmospheres. Early funeral doom was also influenced by gothic rock, death metal, and even classical music. These influences combined to create the slow, somber, and often cinematic sound that defines funeral doom today.
Characteristics of Funeral Doom
Funeral doom is distinguished by its slow tempo, heavy atmosphere, and emotional depth. In terms of musical composition, funeral doom relies on droning, repetitive guitar riffs, deep, almost guttural growls, and sparse drumming. The music is often layered with atmospheric keyboards, creating a sense of desolation and haunting beauty. Let’s look at the key features that make funeral doom unique.
Extremely Slow Tempo
The most defining characteristic of funeral doom is its incredibly slow tempo. Songs often move at a pace so slow that they feel almost like an ambient soundscape. These slow tempos create a sense of heaviness and dread, making the music feel even more oppressive and sorrowful. The rhythm sections often sound like a funeral procession, emphasizing the genre’s connection to themes of death and mourning.
Heavy, Droning Guitars
Funeral doom guitars are typically tuned lower than standard doom metal, contributing to their heaviness. The riffs are often repetitive and droning, creating a hypnotic effect. This heaviness is designed to evoke a feeling of inevitability, mirroring the relentless march of time or the experience of grief. The use of distortion and slow, thick chords adds to the genre’s emotional intensity.
Atmospheric Elements
Atmosphere is a key component of funeral doom. Many bands incorporate elements such as keyboards, synthesizers, or ambient noises to deepen the sense of sorrow and desolation. These atmospheric layers are sometimes used to create an almost cinematic experience, where the listener feels as though they are being transported to a bleak, otherworldly place. This helps to enhance the genre’s emotional impact.
Deep, Monotonous Vocals
Funeral doom often features deep, monotonous vocals. These can range from guttural growls to clean singing, depending on the band’s approach. The growls often convey a sense of anguish or despair, while the clean vocals, if used, may add a haunting beauty to the music. The vocal delivery is often slow and drawn-out, complementing the overall pacing of the music.
Sparse Drumming
Unlike traditional doom metal, which often features fast, energetic drumming, funeral doom uses sparse and minimalistic drumming. The drums are often very simple, contributing to the overall heaviness and slowness of the music. They may be used more for atmospheric purposes than for driving the rhythm, allowing the guitars and vocals to take center stage.
Themes and Lyrics in Funeral Doom
The themes in funeral doom music revolve around darkness, death, and despair. The lyrics often explore the emotional weight of grief, mourning, and the inevitability of death. Some songs may delve into philosophical reflections on the nature of life and death, while others may focus on more personal experiences of loss and sorrow. Many funeral doom bands also incorporate elements of melancholy, hopelessness, and isolation into their music.
The lyrics in funeral doom often reflect a sense of emotional emptiness. They may focus on feelings of abandonment, suffering, or existential dread. This focus on existential themes creates a deeply emotional listening experience, where the listener can immerse themselves in the sadness and darkness of the music. The lyrics are often introspective, inviting the listener to contemplate their own feelings of mortality and loss.
Funeral Doom Subgenres
Funeral doom, like many other genres, has its own subgenres and offshoots. These subgenres often mix elements of funeral doom with other styles, such as death metal, black metal, or ambient music. Some of these subgenres include:
Death-Doom
Death-doom is a fusion of funeral doom and death metal. It combines the slow, brooding elements of funeral doom with the growling vocals and heavier, more aggressive riffs of death metal. The result is a more intense version of funeral doom that can still convey the emotional weight and sadness but with a more violent, aggressive edge.
Blackened Funeral Doom
Blackened funeral doom takes the atmospheric, slow elements of funeral doom and combines them with the raw, abrasive elements of black metal. This style tends to be darker and more sinister than traditional funeral doom, with an emphasis on eerie, tremolo-picked guitar riffs, blast beats, and shrieking vocals. Blackened funeral doom often explores themes of misanthropy, anti-religion, and existential nihilism.
Atmospheric Funeral Doom
Atmospheric funeral doom leans heavily on the ambient and cinematic qualities of funeral doom. Bands in this subgenre focus more on creating a mood or atmosphere through the use of keyboards, synthesizers, and field recordings. The music tends to be less riff-oriented and more about establishing a deeply immersive sound world. Atmospheric funeral doom can feel otherworldly or even spiritual, though it still maintains the slow, oppressive pacing characteristic of the genre.
Prominent Funeral Doom Bands
Several bands have defined and shaped the funeral doom genre, pushing its boundaries while maintaining its core elements. Some of the most prominent funeral doom bands include:
Skepticism
Skepticism is often considered one of the pioneers of funeral doom. The Finnish band was formed in the early 1990s and is known for its slow, droning music and somber atmosphere. Their music features heavy, distorted guitar riffs, mournful vocals, and layers of atmospheric keyboards. Skepticism’s music is often described as cinematic, invoking images of desolate landscapes and impending death.
Evoken
Evoken is an American funeral doom band that blends slow, heavy riffs with atmospheric keyboards and growled vocals. Their music is often described as being epic in scope, with long, sprawling songs that take the listener on a journey through a world of darkness and despair. Evoken is known for their ability to create a sense of dread and melancholy, making them one of the most respected bands in the funeral doom scene.
Mournful Congregation
Hailing from Australia, Mournful Congregation is another band that has significantly contributed to the funeral doom genre. Their music is deeply atmospheric, with a focus on melancholy and desolation. Mournful Congregation’s long, immersive songs explore themes of loss and despair, often evoking images of barren landscapes and hopelessness. Their blend of crushing riffs and haunting melodies has earned them a dedicated following.
Ahab
Ahab is a German funeral doom band whose music is inspired by the themes of the sea, particularly the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Their songs are often long and epic in scope, featuring deep growls, slow guitar riffs, and atmospheric keyboard elements. Ahab’s music combines the crushing heaviness of funeral doom with a narrative-driven approach, making their songs feel like an auditory journey.
Funeral Doom in the Modern Era
In recent years, funeral doom has gained a small but dedicated following, with new bands emerging and old bands continuing to evolve the genre. While it remains a niche subgenre, funeral doom has carved out its place within the broader doom metal community. Many funeral doom bands now experiment with new sounds, blending their dark, heavy music with elements of ambient, black, or death metal.
In addition to the music, funeral doom has also made an impact on the visual aesthetic. Album covers often feature dark, haunting imagery, including images of death, decay, and desolation. These visuals mirror the bleakness and sorrow found in the music, creating a full sensory experience for the listener. Funeral doom’s influence can also be seen in the increasing popularity of atmospheric metal, where bands incorporate slow, heavy elements into their music to evoke strong emotions.
See Also: The 12 Easiest Metallica Songs on Drums
Conclusion
Funeral doom is a unique and powerful subgenre of doom metal. With its slow tempos, heavy riffs, and dark atmosphere, funeral doom creates an emotional listening experience that is both cathartic and haunting. The genre is defined by its focus on death, despair, and the inevitability of mortality. It draws from a variety of musical influences, including death metal, black metal, and classical music, creating a sound that is both epic and desolate.
Though funeral doom is not as widely known as some other forms of metal, it has developed a loyal following and continues to evolve in new and exciting ways. Bands like Skepticism, Evoken, and Mournful Congregation have paved the way for future funeral doom acts, ensuring that the genre will continue to haunt and inspire listeners for years to come. Whether you are a long-time fan of the genre or a newcomer, funeral doom offers an intense and immersive musical experience that is not easily forgotten.
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