QUERCUS — Verferum (review)

Album · 2019 · Funeral Doom Metal

3.5/5 · 2023-12-24
siLLy puPPy

QUERCUS from the Czech Republic has been cranking out its mood-dampening funeral doom metal since as far back as 2001 and has surprisingly kept the same lineup of Ondřej Klášterka [aka Lord Morbivod] (vocals, guitar, drums), Lukáš Kudrna (vocals, bass) and Marek 'Markko' Pišl (pipe organ, keyboards) for the entire ride. VERFERUM is the band’s fifth album which continues the members’ foray into the world of funeral doom metal with avant-garde elements most notably in the form of a Baroque sounding pipe organ that gives the band its own unique spin on the lugubrious effects of funeral doom.

Known for lengthy sprawling albums that almost certainly clock in over an hour’s playing time, VERFERUM follows suit which in this case just misses the 62-minute mark. With four tracks that ooze on at a snail’s pace, QUERCUS (ironically the name comes from the Latin name for “oak tree”) exemplifies the typical nature of funeral doom metal with nonchalant chugging doom metal compositions that seemingly could extend to infinity yet truncated at some arbitrary length for the sake of recording purposes.

Every track exceeds 10 minutes with the majority of playing time dedicated to the outstanding closer “Passacaglia D minor, White and Black Darkness” which plods on for well over 23 minutes. Thematically tackling the subjects of the natural world, the human condition and societal woes, QUERCUS directs a demented dreadfulness encapsulated in a series of cyclical riffs and topped off with J.S. Bach inspired pipe organ runs which is the band’s saving grace as the comps themselves are fairly standard in the world of funeral doom in a Mournful Congregation stylistic approach. While not as creative as Esoteric, Evoken or Skepticism, QUERCUS nevertheless scratches the funeral doom itch with a proper dose of doom and gloom.

With impending atmospheres to depress the most optimistic and giddy amongst us, QUERCUS indeed delivers the goods with leisurely lallygagging and sombre strolls through darkened soundscapes that emulate the cover art of stagnating in a bog in some remote region. Falling more into the world of death-doom metal, the vocals mostly exist on the growly side but clean vocals alternate for contrast and the third track “The Pu-erh Exhumed” exists as a grow-free respite reminiscent of the cleaner acoustic passages of classic Agalloch. Unfortunately that track is very generic and milks a one-trick pony into a near 11-minute snoozer.

While the first two tracks provide a competent glimpse into QUERCUS’ unique take on the world of funeral doom, it’s the grand finale which slinks on for over 23 minutes that is the biggest treat on VERFERUM with a satisfying Bach-esque pipe organ accompanying the plodding doom stomps and somnambulating percussive drive. The pompous organ prowess in tandem with the death growls is pure magic in its mood melting methodology which extinguishes all hope and propels the spirit to experience the equivalence of an unfortunate falling into quicksand.

Overall this album is uneven. The low points are low and the high points are high but in the end it’s a compelling funeral doom experience with only the third track providing filler of any sort. If that would’ve been edited from the mix i would love this album a lot more but this album is highly recommended for the massive mystical experience of “Passacaglia D minor, White and Black Darkness” alone with the first two tracks providing the proper fluffing for the ecstatic experience to come. Perhaps a bit less experimental and avant-garde as previous releases but still a decent descent into the darkness that only funeral doom metal can delivery.