What makes The Process of Farmakon by Skepticism notable?

The Process of Farmakon received significant acclaim from critics for its immersive soundscapes and emotional depth, contributing to the evolution of funeral doom metal. Its intricate compositions and atmospheric production helped to influence a number of subsequent bands within the genre, marking it as a key release in Skepticism's catalog. Released in 2002, The Process of Farmakon is Skepticism's third studio album and follows their critically acclaimed 1998 album, Stormcrowfleet. At this point, the band was solidifying its reputation within the doom metal genre, showcasing a distinct sound characterized by slow tempos and deep, resonant instrumentation.

How many songs are on The Process of Farmakon?

The Process of Farmakon has 2 tracks, running approximately 18 minutes.

The Process of Farmakon

Skepticism · 2002

18 min · 2 tracks · doom metal

Heavy, atmospheric doom metal laced with haunting melodies that evoke an ethereal sense of desolation.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Backward Funeral and the Raven — This track encapsulates the album's haunting atmosphere with its slow build-up, blending melancholic melodies with heavy riffs that define Skepticism's sound.
→
The Process of Farmakon — The title track showcases a masterful interplay between somber instrumentation and layered vocal delivery, embodying the thematic essence of the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album's atmospheric depth and intricate compositions contribute to its strong standing in the doom metal genre.

What we noticed

The first track features a slow build with layered guitar textures that create a dense atmosphere, while the second track introduces a more pronounced melody that contrasts with the heaviness.
Both tracks utilize extended instrumental passages, allowing for moments of silence and tension to enhance the overall mood.
The vocals are sparse and often buried in the mix, contributing to the haunting quality rather than dominating the sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Backward Funeral and the Raven 7:48
2 The Process of Farmakon 10:41

What to play next

Listen next

Farmakon

2003

Go back to

Lead and Aether

1998

Full Skepticism discography Artists like Skepticism

doom metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata