Funeral Fornication

Pandemic Transgression

Hypnotic Dirge Records 2011

Canadian suicidal black metaller Funeral Fornication returns for another foray into the realm of atmospheric and diabolic bleakness.  One of my problems with previous Funeral Fornication efforts was the drum machine and to a degree this issue has been addressed.  A drum machine is still utilized but it has a more organic feel to it, so it is not near as distracting as it used to be.  The album's intro is a pulsing beat with eastern female vocals, creating an air of mysticism.  And then the beautiful piano and emotional guitars of Of Fornication and Folklore begin.  The tortured shrieks of Vultyrous add to the sorrow of the track and are compounded by the forlorn melodies that rise in the moments of stillness.  Heavier doom riffs lumber out of the fringes of the song as it trudges towards its demise.  The synth that greets the listener as The Thorn of Capricorn begins lends a symphonic edge to the track.  Swirling leads pierce the ambient synth and the song continues to be dominated by keyboards and clean, deep vocals.  The vocals become more emotional and pleading as the song continues on and I must say the music is at its emotional peak when Vultyrous uses his voice in the manner.  This is the case throughout the album.  The piano that announces Cold Colossus brings to mind Stormblast era Dimmu, however the forlorn melodic guitar is more along the lines of traditional doom, though it is more barren.  No One Has The Right To Exist follows a more traditional symphonic black metal structure with its demonic shrieks and synth drive movements.  The chorus invokes the deadly logic of the song's title and then a stabbing melodic lead arcs across the top of the instruments followed by the catchy main synth line.  Funeral Fornication continues to improve with each release and Pandemic Transgression, while not perfect, is a melancholic dose of black metal which should inspire you to end it all.  My main hope for him is that he someday decides to get the services of a real drummer for his recordings, it would certainly enhance the emotional impact of Funeral Fornication's compositions.