It’s usually black metal that I look to when I want to find music that knows how to cut right to the soul and replace that once-filled cavity with all sorts of nihilism, depression, and much more that make you just want to slither away from all that is. But, it’s the eternally crushing realm of funeral doom that likely has to take the crown for crushing the spirit in an instant, and there are countless grand examples of that. It’s been some time since a record from the style really struck me in a particularly devastating fashion, and it’s only natural that the always acclaimed Profetus returns to us with an offering that’s the perfect embodiment of all that is funeral doom.

At this point in my time with funeral doom metal, my standards have just been placed with that of Bell Witch who has been my guiding light through the style over the last few years, but Profetus has been trudging through the realm for much longer and with much more malice behind their craft such that it’s with their upcoming offering, “The Sadness of Time Passing”, that they’ve reached a pinnacle that can easily be considered to be a peak for the style itself. Five tracks are all that adorn this third full-length offering, but if you know anything about the style you know that Profetus isn’t going to let you finish even the first track without being crushed and stomped time and again such that you’re a pathetic heap that only wishes for the inviting darkness. It’s through this lesson in crushing heaviness that we’re given a conceptual work that brings forth the very concept of impermanence expressed with art that reflects the Japanese saying of “mono no aware” that compliments “The Sadness of Time Passing” brilliantly. Everything you can for of funeral doom greatness can be found at every turn here gives us plenty of classic Finnish heaviness that’s just as diverse as it is quintessential for any fan of the style, and it just continues to get better with each listen as Profetus continues to impress more with each spin.

Each year always gives us a few offerings from the world of funeral doom with how niche the style is despite its growth in both size and popularity, and I’ll be damned if Profetus isn’t hailed by delivering the best of the style come to the end of 2019 very soon. “The Sadness of Time Passing” is absolutely menacing from its spirit to its execution and that helps it become a standout album that better be hailed magnificently upon its arrival!

“The Sadness of Time Passing” releases on October 11th via Avantgarde Music!

PRE-ORDER “The Sadness of Time Passing” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Profetus on Facebook here.