Skepticism

[Eoin McLove]

Seems there's no thread dedicated to the pioneers and, in my opinion, most creative and relevant active funeral doom band, so with their new album 'Companion' recently released I think it's high time we rectified that.

I have been spinning 'Companion' on repeat in the car over the past couple of days and I'm slowly familiarising myself with it. It sounds really good to me. They have such a unique and instantly recognisable sound but they don't shy away from innovation within their own little world. The new one really takes the listener on a journey, the most obviously surprising song is perhaps 'Passage' which kicks things up a gear or two- maybe a nod back towards their debut 7"?- but what really strikes me is Lasse Pelkonen's incredible, inventive drumming. He has made minimalism an artform, but he always knows just how to add the right amount of embellishment to surprise the attentive ear.

This is how funeral doom should be.

[Thorn]

I'd prefer the whole thing to be more in the vein of Passage to be honest, maybe get back into the woods a bit. The album definitely takes a darker turn here which continues by  and large, to the end.

[Eoin McLove]

'Passage' is the most unusual track on it, no doubt. I think there's a nice mix throughout of familiarity and innovation. I can't pick a highlight yet as I'm still absorbing it.