Tragedies / Tristesse

UK release. Funeral formed in 1991 out of the ashes of another band by drummer (then guitarist) Anders Eek and guitarist Thomas Angell. Early '93 bassist Einar Fredriksen was recruited from his old thrash-metal band Anti-Chord, and Funeral recorded it's first demo 'Tristesse' later that year. Wild Rags Records released the demo in '94 as a MCD. Early '94 singer Toril Snyen joined, and the demo 'Beyond All Sunsets' was recorded. This got the attention from amongst others the Norwegian label Arctic Serenades, which led to the release of the album 'Tragedies' in 1995. These releases gave birth to the underground doom-metal term: funeral-doom. In 1999 Funeral recorded 'Demo 99' (also referred to as The Passion Play). This featured 6 tracks, and led Funeral to the release of the album 'In Fields Of Pestilent Grief' in 2001, through Nocturnal Music. In january 2003 utter tragedy befell upon the band, as bassist/singer and songwriter Einar Fredriksen died. This led the band to a near disbandment, and Funeral laid dormant for a year and a half. Then Eek started up again with yet some line-up changes. In 2004 four of the ten Academy-tracks (originally recorded in 1997) were partly re-written, and was Frode Forsmo`s first work as Funeral singer. This was intended as a new demo, but ended up not being released, as totally new material was written, which ultimately led to a new deal with a well-known English label, for which the band is currently in negotiations with, signing up for a 3-album release. 2005 saw the band recording a new 9-track album with the working title "From These Wounds" (based upon one of the poems of Einar Fredriksen). Firedoom Records. 2006.