Review FVNERAL FVKK “Indecent Idols”

For anyone unfamiliar with Fvneral Fvkk, here’s a quick introduction. The band hails from Hamburg, Germany, and was formed in 2015. Their musical territory is firmly rooted in epic doom, and the lineup includes musicians who may already be familiar to some listeners through bands such as Ophis and Fäulnis.

The band released its debut album in 2019, following an EP that had appeared two years earlier. Now, with Indecent Idols, Fvneral Fvkk return with their second full-length, taking another step forward both musically and thematically.

The album opens with the intro “Confiteor,” a fitting choice considering that the title refers to the general confession of guilt used in Christian liturgy. It sets the tone for an album that explores abuse of power, guilt, and wrongdoing within religious institutions through real-world stories.

“Crosses to the Gallows” wastes little time getting into the subject matter. The song tells the story of Giovanni Battista Bugatti, a famous executioner who served the Papal States. The music calls for riffs that feel heavy and ominous, and Fvneral Fvkk deliver exactly that. “Crosses to the Gallows” rolls out of the speakers with considerable weight, leaving its mark from the very first listen.

“Hidden Threnody” brings the subject matter into more recent history. The song deals with cases of abuse in the Australian Diocese of Ballarat and the system of concealment surrounding them. An archival recording of Robert Carlson at the beginning immediately adds an unsettling emotional layer that remains throughout the track. Fvneral Fvkk manage to reinforce the weight of the lyrics through the music without overpowering them. The result is deeply uneasy, and that feeling lingers long after the song is over.

“The Beasts of Speyer” stays close to the album’s central theme, this time turning toward Germany. The track begins on a distinctly sacred note, establishing its emotional direction from the outset. Although the restrained opening creates a sense of calm, there is an underlying discomfort that gradually becomes harder to ignore.

With “Bishop of the Iron Guard,” the album once again examines the darker side of religious institutions, this time through the story of Valerian Trifa. At eight minutes, it is the longest track on the record and a strong example of what Fvneral Fvkk do with epic doom. Slow, crushing riffs meet the commanding vocals of Cantor Cinaedicus, creating a track that is difficult to shake.

The disturbing chapters of church history continue with the pounding “Leichensynode.” Then comes “Even in Death (We Possess You),” the final chapter of this intense record. The closer combines a sense of accusation with genuine grief, telling the story of Brian Gergely, a survivor of abuse, and reflecting the emotional consequences of what he endured.

With Indecent Idols, Fvneral Fvkk deliver an album that is lyrically focused, confrontational, and grounded in real events. At the same time, the band delivers carefully crafted epic doom that reveals its melancholic depth gradually, with details becoming more apparent with each listen. Fvneral Fvkk have clearly developed since their debut and have established themselves as a significant force within the modern epic doom scene.