### Funeral Mist: Devilry

#### 17/04/08 || theProphet

Funeral Mist is probably best known as Marduk vocalist Mortuus’ former band (where he was known as Arioch), but to the would-be black metal connoisseur they are certainly worth more attention than one sentence in another band’s biography. Their debut EP “Devilry”, released in 1998, is as solid as a concrete sumo wrestler and as dark as being locked into a black painted coal cellar whilst wearing sunglasses and a blindfold.

Seriously, this is a lesson in how black metal of the rawer variety should sound. “Devilry” gives off an aura of authenticity and passion and manages to sound trve, the good way. The imagery and song titles seem well thought through and while the lyrics are not printed, there are some excerpts of text in the booklet, and at least these are very well written.

Funeral Mist never fucks up the songwriting on this one either. It’s dynamic, mixing speed with slower parts and melody with brutality. These are not the kind of melodies you would get from say, Naglfar, though. I think that Nifelheim, Watain and some Marduk would be fair comparisons to make, yet of course Funeral Mist has a sound of its own. For a great example listen to the intro riff of the fourth track, aptly titled “Funeral Mist”.

The production is close to perfect for this kind of music, every instrument sounds real and the overall sound’s authentic but as usual, a little more bass wouldn’t hurt, not like having a twelve gauge fired up your ass, at least. Necromorbus, who handles drums and production here, has risen to some prominence after handling the production on Watain’s splendid “Sworn to the Dark”. Anyways, the sound here fits like a cock in a rectum on the third try.

Final mention, Arioch/Mortuus is a great fucking vocalist, he has sounded better than on this one, yet somehow it fits the rest of the music. I can’t picture him sounding like he does on Marduk’s “Rom 5:12” here, that’s for sure.

Get this!

8 concrete sumo wrestlers out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 1998
- Label: Shadow Records
- Website: http://funeralmist.cjb.net
- Band
- Arioch: vocals, guitars, bass
- Necromorbus: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. The Devil’s Emissary
- 02. Bringer of Terror
- 03. Nightside Phantom
- 04. Funeral Mist
- 05. The God Supreme