Crushing riffs, oppressive atmosphere, glacial pace and undecipherable sonorous howls are the trademarks of Funeral Doom, a style of metal that can outlast the competition. Convocation are one such case that blew me away with their debut album Scars Across back in 2018, and again with their 2020 follow up Ashes Coalesce, which introduced a psychedelic spin on hellish Doom. Now, in 2023, the time has finally come for their third album No Dawn for the Caliginous Night (that just means ‘Dark Night’ in Death Metal English). My expectations were very high for this album, as they would be for any follow up in this band’s catalog. And yet again Convocation prove to be one of the best bands in the current Funeral Doom scene.
Gone is the psychedelic sound of Ashes Coalesce, and it’s replaced with a lush backdrop of organ and cello (guest Antti Poutanen of Devenial Verdict). For those who wanted a continuation of the trippy elements present on their sophomore release, it might be a little jarring. Sonic evolution can be an amazing thing though, and Convocation conjure forth a much more dramatic sound with this release. All the hallmarks of their previous records are still present: demonic, hellish vocals that alternate between deep growls and raptor-esque shrieks, bleak atmosphere, and titanic pummeling riffs. Guest vocalists Niko Matilainen (Corpsessed) and Jason Netherton (Misery Index) are fantastic additions to this album as well, as their tone complements Neuman’s very well. No track on this album is a weak link, not even the instrumental “Between Land and Aether”. Everything is exactly as long as it should be, and at no point am I wanting the song to end. Album highlights “Atychiphobia” and “Procession” showcase how far this band has come in three years, with some of the best clean guitar passages they’ve written to date being on display. It all culminates into a triumphantly melancholic finish, and once this album ends, I immediately want to play it again. Make no mistake: Convocation have released the undisputed best Doom album this year, and there’s no question that the only direction they can go is up from here.
