Retro-Review: ‘Antithesis of Light’ by Evoken

Evoken’s 2005 album Antithesis of Light like most albums in the funeral metal genre is hard to review.

With funeral metal you have very long and slow songs with sparse lyrics. It’s not music meant for moshing or headbanging. Instead, it’s better listened to alone in a dim or dark room while you’re alone with your thoughts or with a few melancholic companions.

Much like ambient music, this is the sort of music that takes you someplace. The sounds put images in your head instead of words.

Sure, John Paradiso growls some lyrics here and there, but his guttural and slow delivery is more like another instrument instead of a front-man.

Aside from singing, Paradiso also plays bass. More prevalent throughout and central to setting the moods of the songs is Nick Orlando who churns out riffs that move like molasses and also deliver some echoing melodies throughout. Drummer Vince Verkay cements the slow pace with his boulder-like delivery. Keyboardist Denny Hahn and cellist Chris Kuffner add to the already dark mood.

The album

All songs but the 50-second intro clock in at more than 10 minutes each. There is not much change in tempo. All the songs stick to Verkay’s slow beat, hardly deviating from the course, with the few exceptions here and…