True doom is still alive and kicking. Moreover, the fact that Evoken come from a place (New Jersey, USA) that doesn't seem to be the most auspicious environment for growth of a doom band brings even more tender emotions to my heart. And did someone say that there are no good doom bands in America? Morgion out of Southern California is one band that is proving the naysayers wrong, and there is also Evoken, who have already been around for some time, coming from the East Coast to disprove the nasty rumor.

Evoken carry the torch of classic European doom of the past decade. Fans of early My Dying Bride, Thergothon, Skepticism, even diSEMBOWELMENT (who were not from Europe, but still were a damn good band) should appreciate what Evoken are doing. Their sepulchral doom overflows with nothing but the darkest, dreariest, yet still with a certain degree of romanticism, moods. Very slow, very long, and very depressing, this clot of darkness just crawls all over you. It's like watching an inclement Autumn sky for hours on end, or witnessing a funeral procession. Here is a band who know how to wipe a smile off your face in quite a sublime way, and without descending into teary gothic lamentations.

Evoken's follow-up CD "Quietus," although not offering any major stylistic leaps, is equally impressive.

© 2001 boris