Farmakon
Skepticism · 2003
62 min · 6 tracks · doom metal
Dense, slow-moving riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, creating an atmospheric exploration of darkness and existential despair.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Raven and the Backward Funeral — This track opens the album with its brooding atmosphere and intricate guitar work, setting the tone for the immersive experience that follows.
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Farmakon Process — The title track encapsulates the band's signature sound through its lengthy composition and haunting vocal delivery, embodying themes of decay and introspection.
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[untitled] — At over thirteen minutes long, this instrumental piece exemplifies the band's ability to create tension and release through gradual dynamics and layered instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Farmakon's dense atmosphere and extended compositions create a unique experience in doom metal.
What we noticed
- The album features lengthy tracks, with most exceeding eight minutes, allowing for extended development of musical themes.
- Riffs are layered and often repeat in a slow, deliberate manner, creating a dense atmosphere that emphasizes heaviness.
- Vocals are sparse and often buried within the mix, contributing to the overall mood rather than dominating the sound.
- The final track fades out slowly, leaving an echoing sense of emptiness that resonates with the album's themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- slow, contemplative listening sessions
- haunting melodies and dense atmospheres
- immersive explorations of existential themes
- patient unfolding of dark narratives
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, fast-paced music
- want instant gratification from tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Farmakon is Skepticism's third studio album, following their acclaimed release, Stormcrowfleet, which solidified their place in the funeral doom metal genre. By 2003, the band was already recognized for their distinct sound that combined slow tempos with melancholic atmospheres, and this album furthered their artistic evolution within the scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Evoken· My Dying Bride· Ahab
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Raven and the Backward Funeral 7:38
- 2 Shred of Light, Pinch of Endless 8:19
- 3 Farmakon Process 6:17
- 4 [untitled] 13:15
- 5 Nowhere 14:09
- 6 Nothing 12:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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