Ea Taesse

"Ea is based on the sacral texts of ancient civilizations. Ea uses a dead language which was recreated according to the results of archeological study."

That was the first thing I ever heard about Ea, the second being that they were some sort of majestic funeral doom metal. While I'm pretty sure the text is Babylonian (Ea is the water deity of Babylonian mythology, and has been referenced before in Burzum's "Ea, Lord of the Depths"), Ea never explains to us the intent aside from that brief aforementioned descriptor. This description fit the bill perfectly, with the actual music a pretty good middle ground between the gentler tones of Shape of Despair and the pummel of Skepticism. Most underground funeral doom bands are awful in general, but Ea has pleasantly surprised me, and the aura of mystery surrounding the band members and subject matter, while kinda hokey, adds to the mystique. Ea's compositions are very precise and exact; this is not your typical two-chord dirge stretched for 25 minutes. While the tracks are lengthy (and pretty obviously one massive song split into three parts), the music is never boring and, like the best funeral doom, just sucks the listener in. Given that Shape of Despair has been quiet all these years, and Skepticism, while absolutely amazing, has spread out their releases considerably, Ea's releases give a much-needed presence in the funeral doom world while the giants slumber.

Ea's music is built on swelling piano and synth, delicate lead work, and good ol' funeral doom crushing guitar forming the backbone. Varied drumming and a monstrous vocal performance somewhat reminiscent of Tyranny rounds out the package. If this sounds fairly typical for funeral doom, well, it is, but it does it amazingly well. As has previously been said, cloning is hard to fault when done right. The production is what really makes this release as the synths and guitar simply washes over the listener like the tide.

Like most funeral doom, there's a somewhat indefinable quality to this release that just draws me back again and again. While this is no "Aes" or "Stream from the Heavens," this is a very solid entry into the funeral doom hierarchy. This is the first of a trilogy of Ea releases, all of which I own and enjoy, although this is probably the best due to the freshness of the concept. If you're a funeral doom fan looking to expand your horizon in the genre, Ea is one of the best examples aside from the big 4 (Thergothon, Shape of Despair, Skepticism, Wormphlegm) of funeral doom.

Listening to this album leaves one major impression upon me. Dragged below the depths, shafts of sunlight occasionally penetrate but you quickly realize there is no escape as Ea himself seizes your mind and body in his underwater lair. Your fleeting moments of existence are spent in wonderment and despair at the sheer scale and beauty of the sea. That is Ea's music.