Skepticism is a Finnish

funeral doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

band. Formed in 1991, they are regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre.

History

Starting out with a

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

sound on their first 7", Skepticism soon began to evolve into a more distinctive style, a combination of slow

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

and death metal with prolific use of

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

, especially using an

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

sound. The keyboards intend to create a depressive sound, rather than the

gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

sound that many

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

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 ''Stormcrowfleet'' is the debut album by the Finnish funeral doom metal band Skepticism. It is one of the most important releases of the genre, and is considered a classic within it. Background The band was founded in 1991, and was awarded a reco ...

'' (1995) 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: ''Ethere'' (1997) and ''Lead and Aether'' (1998). 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 opening theme. 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 An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

. Their 2008 release is called ''

Alloy An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductility, ...

''. In 2015, Skepticism released ''Ordeal'', which was recorded live in front of an audience. In 2021, the band announced their upcoming sixth album, ''Companion'', and a music video for the song "Calla".

Band members

*Matti Tilaeus - vocals (1991-) *Jani Kekarainen - guitar (1991-) *Eero Pöyry - keyboards (1991-) *Lasse Pelkonen - drums (1991-) Live musicians *Timo Sitomaniemi – guitars (2015-) Former members *Tobias Kellgren - vocals (1991-1993)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (1995, Red Stream) * ''Lead and Aether'' (1997, Red Stream) * ''Farmakon'' (2003, Red Stream) * ''

'' (2008, Red Stream) * '' Ordeal'' (2015, Svart Records) * ''Companion'' (2021, Svart Records)

Demos, singles and EPs

* "Towards My End" (7" Single, 1992) * ''Aeothe Kaear'' (Demo, 1994) * ''Ethere'' (EP, 1997, Red Stream) * ''Aes'' (EP, 1998, Red Stream) * ''The Process of Farmakon'' (EP, 2002, Red Stream)

External links

Skepticism
– official band website since early 2008 ** ''farmakon.com'' used to be the official band website between early 2003 and late 2005
Skepticism
on Myspace
Svart Records
– Skepticism's record label 2015 *
2003 interview with Eero Pöyry at doom-metal.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skepticism Finnish heavy metal musical groups Finnish doom metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1991 Musical quartets 1991 establishments in Finland Funeral doom musical groups