Customer Reviews

Quietus

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When regular doom metal is just too upbeat and happy, when the pain of life becomes too much to bear, when suicide needs a soundtrack, there's only one band to turn to: Evoken.

Evoken occupies a lonely subgenre of doom metal called funeral doom, and as the disc begins and "In Pestilence, Burning" bears down on you with all the weight of a fallen god, you'll find the genre to be aptly named. This music takes all the hallmarks of doom to the next level; the music crawls along at a very slow pace, is crushingly heavy, and is very depressing. This is not something you turn on in the background while you chat with your friends. "Quietus" demands your attention, it demands a dark room and plenty of volume.

As for its atmosphere, my first listen to this album conjured up an image that I always associate with Evoken now. Let me see if I can paint you a picture. Broken figures shuffle dejectedly through the vast caverns of hell. The despair of their countless years has weighed so heavily upon them that their features are no longer distinguishable; they are no longer individuals, but shapeless masses, so utterly devoid of all hope that they can do nothing but wander aimlessly in their cold prison. They are consigned to an eternity of enslavement to an infinitely cruel fiend who is never seen, but whose presence dominates nonetheless. Listening to this album is like having your heart crushed in a fist of ice with agonizing slowness.

"Quietus" is not something I listen to very often. I have to be in a pretty dark mood to really get into this kind of music. But on those days, "Quietus" is pure catharsis. If you enjoy doom metal in general, or just want to punish yourself, get this and you won't be disappointed.

Oh God... wow. EVOKEN's 'Quietus' definitely lives up to all the hype it's getting in the Underground, and elsewhere. This album is most definitely not for the faint of heart, because 'Quietus' almost literally crushes the listener; only the strong will be able to survive an encounter with this * MONSTER * of a Doom / Death Metal album. The closest thing i can compare 'Quietus' to is a huge, dying beast, filled with infinite hatred and malice... slowly, very slowly, making it's way towards you. Eek. My heart beat still hasn't slowed down, and it's been a while since i turned 'Quietus' off. What else can i say? For me, this is not only the Doom / Death Metal album of 2001, it is * THE * album, period. EVOKEN's musical insight is ugly and inhuman, yet somehow they manage to draw a twisted sort of beauty from the lumbering darkness that they, um, evoke. [[ SIGH ]] I can't even think straight enough to type a decent review because of the sick knot this CD has left in my stomach. Once again, I'm warning you: this is * ONLY * for the brave... the rest of you will hate this CD, not because of the music itself, but because of the absolute darkness that it conjures forth, from within yourself. Proceed with caution. It's music like this that keeps my dwindling faith alive in what works of power ordinary human beings can create. I have to go to the bathroom.

If you have any interest in doom metal at all, this is one of those cds that you really must get. Every song on here is crushing, bleak, heavy, and slow yet beautiful at the same time. Quietus is one of the best examples of the genre and if you are into death metal but haven't experienced any death/doom or funeral doom bands give this a try. I advise you to stay open minded though as I know many people who just can't get into these kind of bands because the music is just too slow for them. Anyway this is one of those cds where you can listen and just become engulfed in the music. Every song on here is good but if I can't listen to the whole album at a time I usually end up listening to In Pestilence, Burning or Quietus the most. Also this is supposedly their best cd although I have yet to hear the others so I can't fully comment on that yet.

Evoken are, without a doubt, the heaviest and slowest band out there. They are the epitome of funeral metal, following and perfecting the legacy of dISEMBOWELMENT, the creators of this genre. Spectral death metal vox, crushingly slow guitars, and pounding drums with copious amounts of reverb on everything combine to create an experience that transcends the inner being. Sorry to get all poetic about it, but listening to Evoken really does create an enlightened feeling.
Similar bands include Shape of Despair, Mournful Congregation, and Remembrance, to name a few. Also, Evoken has a newer album called "Antithesis of Light." It is another must-have for funeral metal lovers. I ordered it through CMDISTRO for around $12.

I am new to the doom metal genre and "Quietus" is the first doom album i have listened to and i was blown away. From the first note to last trailing distortion a sat back utterly astounded such emotion and power this makes me want throw away all those "screamo" cds i seem to have wasted my money on. go buy this buy it now crank it up and be amazed

ouch! I could feel bones starting to break under the weight of this hefty offering. Along with "The Ethereal", this is some of the most brutal doom you can find. This is the kind of thing you just have to turn up real loud and close your eyes to.This is an experience that must be executed properly. That means you press play and you leave it until the very last note has finished putting the hurt on your soul. Commenting on any one song does not do this CD justice. Each and every slab punishes the senses with equal ferocity.
Evoken delivers the goods with aching slowness. The music moves with the speed of a pack of racing snails...very heavy thousand pound racing snails. Each song builds towards an end that just never arrives. The mood is glum. There is no hope or happiness here. Every sunny thought is methodically extracted from your brain and the gloom grows with each passing moment. Just how much music exists today that can totally and completely engulf you in pure feeling? Not much. The music of Evoken is truly the sound of a world that has left some of us behind. Any self-respecting doom fan and fan of music in general needs this CD.

for dark, depressing nights. Consider yourself warned: YES, THIS ALBUM DOES HAVE A STEADY SLOW BEAT THROUGH THE ENTIRE ALBUM! But that's the point of it! It's funeral/doom, and it's for sitting back and thinking of all of the reasons life isn't worth living. So if you aren't into this sort of thing, then don't buy it. Otherwise, this album is for you! (Unless of course you have suicidal tendencies, in which case, you may want to pass it up...)

Not many bands can play doom music as good as Evoken can and this album proves it. From the mindblowing beginning with "In Pestilence Burning" to the hauntingly heavy atmosphere of "Where Ghosts Fall Silent" this album is filled with great moments. As a matter of fact there isn't a bad moment throughout the whole album. Seriously now if you're looking for the one doom metal album to get you into the genre, this is it! Very highly recommended!

this is only my second doom-metal album (the first being the phenomenal "turn loose the swans" by my dying bride) and it already one of my favourite metal genres. but this cd really shattered my preconceptions of how truly dark and sinister music should sound like. from the very first minute this album made me sit down and listen to it without doing any other work. mind you, this is not background music. u cannot just put this on and do your other chores. this cd will take you to the darkest corners of your mind and haunt you even after it stops spinning in your stereo. one reviewer quiet rightly said that this was music fit for satan's funeral, i couldn't have put it better myself.
anyway u have to have this album, but this cd is definately not for everyone! also try out shape of despair's "angels of disterss" another amazingly dark and depressing album a great band.

Somber at times! and very dark and heavy ! Just like there last cd "embrace the emtiness" this one is by far the one of the best doom cd's that i have. With alot of atmospheric soundscapes you feel the cold chills run down your spine! BY IT NOW !