Evoken – Mendacium

Pegah

The American death/funeral doom band Evoken returns with Mendacium, their newly released album steeped in medieval anguish. According to their Bandcamp, the record unfolds in the 14th century, following an aging Benedictine monk stricken with illness and confined to his monastic chamber. His unwavering devotion to God brings neither solace nor redemption. As his body withers and sleepless agony consumes him, the cover art vividly mirrors his torment — a visceral portrayal of suffering and spiritual decay. The spreading blood evokes a sense of sacrifice, as though he is being devoured by his own faith, while the stark contrast between light and shadow within the stone walls captures the divide between his inner torment and the unreachable world beyond.

That tracklist is brilliantly deliberate — it’s structured around the canonical hours of the Benedictine monastic day. Each title marks a specific prayer time in the Divine Office (known as the Liturgy of the Hours), observed by monks since the early Middle Ages.

“Matins,” with its gloomy and weighty atmosphere, perfectly embodies the midnight hour — the time of chanting psalms before dawn. The darkness here symbolizes both spiritual vigilance and the first stirrings of madness. Throughout the track, the layering of multiple voices creates an almost liturgical tension, as if echoing the monk’s restless prayers in isolation. The sudden bursts of rapid drumming heighten that unease, emphasizing the inner torment consuming him while the rest of the world lies asleep.

The soundscape grows heavier in “Lauds”, marked by sudden shifts in tempo and intensity. This track represents the dawn prayer —the echoing voices seem to embody that transition, resonating between hope and despair. The interplay of clean vocals and growls feels like the monk’s inner dialogue — a struggle between faith and doubt. “Prime”, referring to the first hours of morning, is an instrumental piece that signifies the beginning of labor and discipline within the monastic day.

“Terce”, set in the later hours of the morning, represents a time traditionally associated with inspiration and divine presence. The track evokes the intrusion of an otherworldly entity, cloaked in the guise of revelation, blurring the line between spiritual awakening and descent into madness. “Sext”, my favorite track, represents the sixth hour — noon — traditionally the hour of Christ’s crucifixion. It marks the apex of suffering, both spiritual and physical. The piece opens with an atmospheric soundscape that gradually builds in intensity, reaching its devastating peak. Here, the monk’s illness and torment seem to increase as well.

“None”, the ninth hour, marks the traditional time of Christ’s death. The soundscape grows harsher and heavier here, embodying the monk’s spiritual breaking point — a moment of complete collapse where faith, flesh, and sanity all begin to dissolve beneath the weight of despair. “Vesper” refers to the evening hour, when the world begins to quiet and the day nears its end. This instrumental piece reflects that fading light, a moment of surrender as the monk finally accepts his fate. “Compline”, the hour of night and final prayer, signifies ultimate dissolution — whether physical death or spiritual annihilation. The atmosphere descends into darkness completely, and the vocals grow harsher, embodying the fall into the void. Here, the album reaches its final question: does the monk find peace at last, or has he been consumed entirely by the void he once mistook for faith?

Label: Profound Lore Records

Release date: October 17, 2025

Website: https://evokenofficial.bandcamp.com/album/mendacium

Country: USA

Score: 4.8/5.0