Empty - The House Of Funerary Hymns

"The House Of Funerary Hymns" is the third full length of this Spanish black metal act. Founded in 1995 by Maligner and B. Sanety to create a band to satisfy their darkest feelings. Together with Kurgan a first attempt to compose songs was made which led to a bassist Drizzt in 1997. In 1998 Krugan left and Drizzt began to compose new tunes. Also in that same year Vanth entered as a guitarist which opened doors for improvement. In 1999 B. Sanety left his drum kit and was replaced by Sergh. Who was folllowed by Damastor in 2001. In 2000 the original vocalist Maligner also left the band. And also a second guitarist entered, Orgall. So the current line up is Drizzt, Vanth, Damastor and Orgall and they are responsible for this third album "The House Of Funerary Hymns".

On "The House Of Funerary Hymns" there are 7 tracks but the promo I got from Ishtadeva only contains the title track. So this review is based on one single song but it might be suitable for the whole album. What you hear is a song in a black metal body but with a despressive skin. The black metal is not raging toward purgatory but the arrangement iss are more with a desperate and depressive atmosphere. The song begins with a quiet guitar intro covered by whispers and high screams. The tempo of the song falls in a doomy mid passage which halfway speed up a bit till the end.The title song express a chill and haunted desperation and hope that this continues the whole album but hope they also will have faster tracks on it.

Also pay attention to the artwork which is made by Chris Moyen and perfectly suits the concept of this album, escpecially for a vinyl version. If you want to have a CD version you can buy it from the band directly.

1. Funeral Prelude
2. The Sense Of No Being
3. How Far I Am From All
4. The House Of Funerary Hymns (on this promo)
5. Regret, From Nothing In It's Self
6. In The Sombre Solitude
7. The Gates Of Eden Are Too Narrow


Ishtadeva Vinyl Productions
Reviewer: twansibon
Jan 3, 2010

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