| Shades of Night Descending (Mcd) | 1996 | Adipocere |
Musically, Evoken uses reverberating guitars, alternating between heavy distortion and semi-acoustic effects. Vocals vary from very deep grunts and whispers to more aggressive, deep screams. The drums add a lot to the heavily loaded atmosphere. When playing this mini album at a little higher volume, everything that surrounds the boxes starts shaking from the heavy layers of the doomy dark-metal that we hear. The tempo is generally very slow, but at times Evoken surprises us with an aggressive guitar/drum part, what could be seen as a black metal influence.
One short intro and four songs between 6 and 9 minutes long lasts our journey through the depths of Evoken's music. This mini album is a bit comparable to bands like Dolorian, Insanity Reigns Supreme, Thergothon and Winter. I can advise this album to anyone who likes the bands I just mentioned and to all doom/death lovers in general.
1. Intro
2. In Graven Image
3. Shades Of Night Descending
4. Towers Of Frozen Dusk
5. Into The Autumn Shade
Approx. 34 minutes
Orignally released in 1994.
| Promo 1996 (MC) | 1996 | None |
This one dates back to 1996 and is therefore midway between 'Shades of Night Descending' and 'Embrace the Emptiness'. However, when we listen to the music on this release, it quickly becomes clear that the band was a good part along the way to the musical style that features on 'Embrace the Emptiness' and 'Quietus'. The opening song lingers a bit in the style of the first release at first, but later on is very reminiscent of the material on the following full-length album.
'Embrace the Emptiness' is even more of an omen of future work, because this version is, except for the production, practically the same as the one on 'Quietus'. Even in this primitive form, this remains a very, very impressive song.
All that remains is the outro. In Evoken's hands an outro - which is often quite redundant - can become something good. This song is basically just one riff, but it's executed to perfection. Although I'm not sure it would have fitted with 'Quietus', I like this a lot better than "Atrementous Journey", for example. It's a shame this one was never worked into one of the later songs or used as an outro on one of the albums.
1. The Hills of Arctic Stillness
2. Embrace the Emptiness
3. Outro
Approx. 27 minutes
| Promo 1997 (MC) | 1997 | None |
'Among the Whispering Spirits' is a song that could match up to the level of those on 'Embrace the Emptiness', if produced properly, and is on the whole a very gloomy and interesting track. Now though, in 2005, the track lives on on 'Antithesis of Light' as one of the tracks riffs features in the song 'Accursed Premonition'.
The continuity is even more clear in the outro, which is nothing less than what would later become the excellent intro of 'Tragedy Eternal'. A great riff, and one that would colour 'Embrace the Emptiness' greatly.
All in all, this promo proves to be a long way from being compared to a vacuum cleaner. In fact, it doesn't suck one bit. As I've said once, it's the mark of a great band to sound better on a promo than most bands do on an album. Evoken is one of those bands.
1. Among the Whispering Spirits
2. Outro
Approx. 12 minutes
| Embrace the Emptiness (CD) | 1998 | Elegy |
The front cover picture shows a cemetery where somewhere in the front of this desolate spot a mysterious, veiled human shape seems to be mourning above a tomb. Well-trained doom freaks usually start salivating spontaneously when they see this picture, because they know what to expect: and indeed, Evoken seems to be one of the slowest and darkest doom bands around. Combining a heavy, unrelenting doom basis with spooky atmospheric parts and EXCELLENT keyboards, Evoken builds up endless landscapes of horror and darkness. The vocalist uses a big variety of vocal styles, combining grunts, whispers, spoken word and even blackish screams.
The listener expects at any moment a sudden outburst, a furious, hateful attack. But such an outburst never comes and the listener is left frustrated and unsatisfied, forever lost in a kingdom of darkness of which there is no escape…and soon, the unfortunate lost soul finally accepts his fate and helplessly surrenders 'To sleep eternally'.
1. Intro
2. Tragedy Eternal
3. Chime the Centuries End
4. Lost Kingdom of Darkness
5. Ascend into the Maelstrom
6. To Sleep Eternally
7. Curse the Sunrise
Approx. 71 minutes
| Quietus (CD) | 2001 | Avantgarde |
John Paradiso's vocals are very low and steady, his deep grunts sound like the huge screams of the dead that are desperately trying to escape from their dark catacombs. Musically, the main difference with their previous album, is that 'Quietus' sounds much more complicated and heavier. The background keyboards add once again an extra dimension of horror and dark emotions of emptiness and despair. Also the typical clean guitar parts, revealing the influence of diSEMBOWELMENT, are still present. However, the most obvious influence on the sound of Evoken, seems to be the legendary 'Celtic Frost under water' band Winter, with the main differences being the frightening keyboards and the inhuman vocals.
Check also out the last track 'Atrementous journey', a dark, funeral doom instrumental outro with a surf rock 'feel'. If you can imagine something like that! Only an American band could come up with something like this... In short: if you are an Evoken fan, you must buy this. If you don't know Evoken, but you know you get you kicks from dark and heavy music: you must buy this. And if you feel that after reading this review you would like to check this band out: don't hesitate to do it. This time, the good distribution from Avantgarde music makes this work much easier to find!
1. In Pestilence, Burning
2. Withering Indignation
3. Tending the Dire Hatred
4. Where Ghosts Fall Silent
5. Quietus
6. Embrace the Emptiness
7. Atrementous Journey
Approx. 71 minutes
| Promo 2002 (Promo) | 2002 | None |
To be quite honest I own various official releases of bands that sound a lot worse then this Promo, despite the fact that Evoken recorded it in 1 day on "a cheap-o 8 track recorder". As is to be expected the "production quality" is basically absent. But I think it adds perfectly to the atmosphere, giving it that same empty-hollow atmosphere you find on Thergothon's or Hierophant's releases.
Atmosphere is actually the keyword when it comes to this review. The heavy laden, sad atmosphere this band creates remains hard to copy. With every note they shatter dreams and hopes, the music crushes any dreams of a happy and blissful life you might have had left. All the tracks demonstrate Evoken's awesome power to write very slow and heavy songs, but without ever musically crushing you or draining you. It is all about atmosphere. The choice whether you dream away on it or let it suffocate you remains with you, the listener. The combination between slow crushing guitars and lighter keyboard sound is the key factor here. The two form a symbiosis that ensures the magic that we got to know of Evoken on previous albums is maintained here as well.
Compared to previous albums the Promo sounds a little `lighter`, more in the vein of Thergothon. I do realise this for a large part is due to the production. I can but guess how these songs are going to sound with a real production budget behind them, but I suspect they'll be a lot heavier and more soul crushing. Perhaps because of that I am really happy with this Promo. I know the new album will sound fantastic, but to hear these songs recorded in what I can best describe as "Thergothon style" (i.e. No budget) has a charm of its own, one that appeals a lot to me.
I can't wait for Evoken to release these songs, because my fellow doomsters, we will be in for one hell of a doomy treat. Evoken has grown out to be the toping of the death/doomy cake as well as the cake itself. If you for some reason are not familiar with Evoken's work and you call yourself a fan of Death/Doom or funeral Doom, then shame on you! Be sure to get some of their work as soon as possible!
1. Omniscient
2. Coveting Elysium
3. Reverie in Tears
4. The Last of Vitality
5. Antithesis of Light
Approx. 53 minutes
| Antithesis of Light (CD) | 2005 | Mercenary Musik |
The '2002 Promo' sounded very different from the previous Evoken work, due to the (lack of) production. The keyboards had a strong presence and that gave all of the songs a very mellow feel, compared to the rest of the releases. The question was: "Is this how the new album is going to sound?" Well, no. As far as overall sound goes, this album is more like 'Quietus' than the '2002 Promo'. On the other hand, there is enough of a difference in production as well. The guitars are again upfront in the mix and are a bit raw at times. In general the album has a rougher edge to it than all of the previous releases.
And then, I believe the songs themselves deserve to be treated one by one. After a short, spooky intro, the album kicks off with 'In Solitary Ruin'. This song is some severe diSEMBOWELMENT worship, finely cast into an Evoken mold. Characteristic leads and some truly ravishing speedy parts make this a great opener. After this, 'Accursed Premonition' offers the first glimpse into the past. In the middle of this brooding song with the trademark style we encounter a riff from 'Among the Whispering Spirits', which appeared on the '1997 Promo'. Up next is 'The Mournful Refusal', which is the last totally new song on the album. This is a seriously heavy song, with some great guitar solo and lead work, definitely one of the many highlights of the album. 'Pavor Nocturnus' is the new title of 'Reverie in Tears' from 2002. Besides that it's pretty much the same as the original version: a dark keyboard-driven, slow-paced track, presented here with a crisp production and finishing touches of guitar work. 'Antithesis of Light' differs a bit from the older version. A lot of change has gone into the song structure and especially the sound, giving the song a wholly new character and appeal. At the end, the final riff from the 2002 song 'Coveting Elysium' was added. Very, very captivating. The closing track on the album is 'The Last of Vitality', a song with composition and lyrics by ex-member Dario Derna. Again from 2002, and again very keyboard-based. And it is, however boring it may sound, very, very good.
So, what does this mean in the context of the entire Evoken oeuvre? Well, first of all it's safe to say that the band doesn't dwell too much on past successes and have given this album a great appeal of its own. The songs from the '2002 Promo' definitely represent a new, more trance-like side of the band, while the first three songs remind one more of the earlier works. All of these influences receive a new treatment. Compared to 'Quietus' the musicianship has improved even further; the drumming is varied and engaging, there is a lot of room for different guitar sounds and solos, and some small other touches, such as the cello or sound effects finish the album up superbly.
There's only a few things left to say: this is a great and worthy follow-up to 'Quietus'. It has a great theme in the artwork and lyric sheet. This is over 70 minutes of grim winter for when everything's starting to turn green again. Everyone who's even remotely interested in modern doom should own this.
"Darkness, therefore, is much more than the mere absence of light; it is the very antithesis of light."
1. Intro
2. In Solitary Ruin
3. Accursed Premonition
4. The Mournful Refusal
5. Pavor Nocturnus
6. Antithesis of Light
7. The Last of Vitality
Approx. 72 minutes