FUNERAL FOR TWO, a new Doom Metal band from Finland, have just released their debut, self-titled EP via Inverse Records. The EP contains two tracks. "Sculpture of a Demon" is the first track. It buzzes with a low, fuzzy riff where I think I can actually hear the vibration of the guitar strings. The vocals are clean and thick with reverb. For the most part, the bass guitar echoes the rhythm guitars. The sound is depressing and despondent, and they hang on that riff throughout the song.

"Forgotten Souls" is just under ten-minutes in length. Big, heavy guitar, bass, and drum strikes open the song, going down the scale to an impossible black hole at the bottom. The vocals are high in the register, offering some semblance of sound outside of the heavy, low end of absolute nihilism created by the instruments. The guitar and bass string struggle to get out of a constant state of low vibration. The riff changes just before the half-way mark, repeating a three-chord pattern for several bars. Then, it's back to the previous sound again. Coming to the end, the Doomy pattern threatens to consume your soul.

Overall, it's hard to rate a band based on just two tracks, but I did enjoy the album. Doom Metal is one those genres where the boundaries are fairly thin, though there is room for mashups with other genres. Those who stick to just playing Doom are "doomed" in a sense that the final result can be expected, and FUNERAL FOR TWO did play that part fairly safe. But, the music can also be mesmerizing when done properly, which they did accomplish. Finland is also a hot bed for Metal, so don't fall asleep on these guys...they may release a killer first full-length soon.