Album Review: Evangelist – Ad Mortem Festinamus
Reviewed by Richard Oliver
'Ad Mortem Festinamus' is the new E.P. from Polish epic doom band Evangelist who have "in times of doom, returned with songs of death and destruction". Featuring an all-anonymous line-up, Evangelist formed back in 2008 and have a total of three full length albums under their belts. This six song EP is made up of three newly recorded songs and three songs that were recorded in the sessions for previous album Deus Vult which ultimately went unused up until now.
Evangelist are a band that are heavily influenced by the "obscure epic metal scene in the US, epic doom metal pioneers and metal classics in general" and these influences can clearly be heard throughout this E.P.. There is not a single epic doom metal band out there that don’t owe their careers to Candlemass and Evangelist are no exception with their influence hugely permeating through the sound of the band. The vocals are very much in that Messiah Marcolin camp which is generally atypical of epic doom bands whilst the riffs and melodies are equally as massive as each other with songs such as Perceval, The Puritan and Pale Lady Of Mercy brimming with doom-laden mood and bristling with epic heavy metal glory. The band also give us an effective cover of the Manilla Lake song Mystification.
Epic doom metal is very much set in how it sounds and Evangelist are another in a long line of similar sounding bands. It may not be very original sounding but you pretty much know what you are going to get with an epic doom metal band and Evangelist are an excellent example of the genre with masses of influence from the pioneers of the genre as well as a big incorporation of that classic heavy metal sound that we all know and love. This is nothing groundbreaking but it is very enjoyable.
