Album Review: Funeralopolis - ...Of Deceit And Utter Madness

Funeralopolis - …Of Deceit And Utter Madness

Memento Mori - 2020

9/10

Finding a band named after an extremely boring stoner band (yeah, get at me) and discovering it wasn’t mimicking that style was a welcome surprise, especially after seeing the album art. Five years ago, the Swiss doom/death outfit Funeralopolis dropped one of the thickest and most monstrous records in that style. Titled, …Of Deceit And Utter Madness, it works as a perfect balance between that cavernous muck feeling and straightforward explosions, with an obvious hint of stonerism. To say the least, I find that to be a unique trait within this subgenre.

Giving credit where it’s due, the guitar tones and the droney tint that often comes with stoner/doom is what helps this stand out. The echo-like production allowing the powerful snares to also pop through as a compliment to the extremely dense riffing was also a fantastic touch. These tactics tend to make their presence in the slower, drawn-out parts that squeeze out more focus on rhythm, often preceding faster and chaotic outbursts that revert back to the horrific element that surrounds everything. Most importantly, it’s all pulled off in under forty minutes, hitting the sweet spot without needing to lay on fifty-five minutes of unwanted meandering.

Perhaps some of my favorite moments in …Of Deceit And Utter Madness are the buzzsaw riffs that take the forefront with a repetitive arc (in a good way), as they never overstay their welcome. “House Of West” even pulls off a droning cool-off before letting in a bass lick paired with doomy leads, before breaking into another pummeling wall of death metal battery. Grating tones that up the ante add weight to the already established buzz, unfolding beautifully on the following “Witchcraft Horror,” especially when the drums just reign relentlessly on the latter part of the song. Things reach a boiling point in the burning pit of “The Envenomed King,” reaching critical mass in an avalanche of riffs and shrieking vocals, collapsing into relentless death metal fervor.

Funeralopolis doesn’t do anything that hasn’t been done before, but I don’t think I’ve ever found a band that knows how to balance these specific ingredients so well. They let on a touch of the stoner influence without allowing proverbial smoke to overwhelm and consume the vibe. The pacing feels natural at every moment, the changes in delivery swing in at just the right times, and an overall horrifying vibe is achieved through otherwise basic playing. Not a technical record, but one that rivals many of that type.

Album Review: King Diamond - Fatal Portrait

King Diamond - Fatal Portrait

Roadrunner Records - 1986

9.5/10

To many, the debut King Diamond record acts as the bridge connecting a gap between early Mercyful Fate and the iconic concept-oriented trajectory. To me, Fatal Portrait is not only more than just that, but solid proof that half a concept with some standalones can flow just as nicely. Bringing axeman Michael Denner and introducing Andy, Timi and Mikkey would certainly show some new colors, despite following the tighter approach evident on Don’t Break The Oath. However, I’d go as far as saying this is a step up on the songwriting front.

The “Molly” short story that the first four tracks (and closer) revolve around paint an extremely chilling picture with a glimpse at what would soon become staple; combining furious riff progressions with atmospheric effect, and a healthy serving of melody. Chants, deep synth notes, and a droning buzz contrast the heavy delivery perfectly, which already does a fantastic job of swinging in with accessible melodies on its own. On the back side, single-serving doses that raise the same hairs on one’s skin work so nicely that an untrained ear couldn’t even tell the whole record isn’t one full narrative. Moreover, despite the cleaner production, there still remains a dingy tint adding extra flavor to the darker passages, rounding things off beautifully.

Where King Diamond’s magic lies is right in the sweet spot found between all of this. Opener “The Candle” might be one of the spookiest openings to a record I’ve ever heard, being the perfect kickoff to a spooky-season staple. Its descent into pummeling drum kicks and faster rhythms let on lots of adrenaline right away, melting nicely into the more accessible “The Jonah.” “The Portrait” then feels more vocal centric as it jumps between falsetto melodies and shrieking outbursts, topped off with some of the strongest solos in the cracks. “Dressed In White” then wraps this segment up with arguably some of the most accessible rhythms, particularly in the opening licks and iconic singalong chorus. We’d return to this at the end with “Haunted,” which admittedly would have fit better here, but I can’t act like it doesn’t feel like a solid bookend.

Looking at the individual numbers, the same tactics are used piece by piece save for connecting the songs with one narrative. If there’s a single “scary rotten fun” tune to be had, it would be “Halloween” thanks to the maniacal laughs and catchy verses, though even here the stomping, deep rhythms are a sharp force meant to remind us of the dark situation we’re trapped in. On a similar note, “Charon” utilizes explosive riffs for that effect, sharing the forefront with King’s outbursts. It bridges nicely with “Lurking In The Dark,” putting more emphasis on the soloing right out of the gates. All that leaves is the instrumental “Voices From The Past,” invoking a hallway chase that never truly ends, perhaps to quickly achieve the feeling that all of Fatal Portrait aims for in one swift swoop. It’s like your horror anthology series put into an engaging trailer.

For some reason, this record seems to have mixed reviews amongst fans, and I can’t help but think some of that is chalked up to it not being the typical concept record King would become known for. More iconic and in-depth records would certainly follow, but the first run around truly has some of the greatest songwriting in both bands’ discography. On an individual track level, its chilling vibes are unmatched. As a bigger picture, it flows like the smoothest horror themed roller coaster you’ve ever been on.