Skepticism (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Skepticism


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Origin = Riihimäki, Etelä-Suomen
Genre = Funeral doom metal
Years_active = 1991 - present
Label = [http://www.redstream.org Red Stream]
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URL = [http://www.skepticism.fi Skepticism]
Current_members = Matti Jani Kekarainen Pasi Pöyry Lasse Pelkonen
Past_members = J. Korpihete
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Skepticism is a funeral doom metal band from Finland. Formed in 1991, they are regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre.

Overview of studio work

Starting out with a death metal sound on their first 7", Skepticism soon began to evolve into a more distinctive style, a combination of slow doom metal and death metal with prolific use of keyboards, especially using an organ sound. The keyboards created a depressive sound, rather than the elaborate or gothic sound that many metal bands using keyboards tend to focus on. This style was first heard on the "Aeothe Kaear" demo (1994), which was still up-tempo compared to the material that was to follow. The debut full-length "Stormcrowfleet" took that style a step further, consisting of six long and slow tracks with an average length of nearly ten minutes each.

After this, the band released its first 'pair', an EP and album which are thematically connected. A touch less oppressive in sound, but more abstract in lyrics, "Ethere" (1997) and "Lead and Aether" (1998) are perhaps the best known Skepticism albums, especially for the track 'The March and the Stream', which appears in a different version on both releases, and which is considered by some to be one of the most depressing doom metal songs ever recorded. In 1999, "Aes" was released, a one-track EP lasting almost 28 minutes, and another departure into different stylistic territory from the band. A variety of musical themes are explored before the song turns back upon itself and returns to the theme that began it.

The band's latest releases were contained in the second 'pair', "The Process of Farmakon" (2002) and "Farmakon" (2003). These releases involve another slight departure from earlier releases, by introducing more elements of dissonance and experimentation.

Line-up

* Matti - Vocals
* Jani Kekarainen - Guitars
* Pasi Pöyry - Keyboards
* Lasse Pelkonen - Drums

Discography

Demos, singles & EPs

* "Towards My End" (7" Single, 1992)
* "Aeothe Kaear" (Demo, 1994)
* "Ethere" (EP, 1997, Red Stream)
* "Aes" (EP, 1999, Red Stream)
* "The Process of Farmakon" (EP, 2002, Red Stream)

Albums

* "Stormcrowfleet" (1995, Red Stream)
* "Lead and Aether" (1998, Red Stream)
* "Farmakon" (2003, Red Stream)
* "Alloy" (2008, Red Stream)

External links

* [http://www.skepticism.fi Skepticism] the official website of Skepticism since early 2008
** "farmakon.com" used to be the official website address of Skepticism between early 2003 and late 2005
* [http://www.doom-metal.com/interview.php?id=28 Interview with www.doom-metal.com, April 2003]
* [http://www.redstream.org/ Red Stream] - Skepticism's label
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* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=5222 Skepticism] at Encyclopaedia Metallum