Fátima - "Eerie"
Fátima is a band from Paris, France who first piqued my interest in late July 2024 when I heard the singles Miracle of the Sun and Ceremonies on 666MrDoom's YouTube channel. That's putting it mildly... I was actually quite enamored with Fátima's sound: a genre-bending tapestry of doom-laden rock with ribbons of Oriental influence throughout, complete with a grungy vocal delivery. I was compelled to write a post about those singles (you can read that here), also highlighting the band's eclectic creative influences that can be heard throughout their music, as well as their amazing DIY skills. Much to my delight, I learned that these songs were from Eerie, Fátima's fourth and most recent album. I giddily played those two singles many times while I waited for Eerie's release, and utterly immersed myself in it when it dropped on September 6, 2024. My intuition that I was onto something great when I happened upon Fátima in July was spot on; Eerie is absolutely beautiful, delivering even more of the haunting, artful melodies I adore.
Eerie
1. Ceremonies
Eerie opens in a powerful way with Ceremonies. I can really hear Fátima's love for sci fi and the fantastical here, but in a rather dark and "eerie" way...sci fi as imagined by a band with doomy tendencies. Ceremonies abounds with feelings of apprehension and fear, but in an almost romantic and awe-inspired way (I can't help but imagine the art style of HR Geiger).
I always find Fátima's vocalist's singing to be universally soothing regardless of the texture and level of emotion it embodies. On the verses in Ceremonies, the vocals utilize a foreboding tone, almost like a warning, before ripping into the impassioned, echoing cries of "Ceremonies!" in the chorus. The instrumentals operate in the same way, creeping about, the occasional standout crawling bass line or doomy rumble threatening to break cover, before erupting full force in the chorus. Overall, Ceremonies feels like something to be both feared and respected, a power too great to escape or withstand in the end.
A gorgeous live performance of "Ceremonies" from the Studioblow Session YouTube Channel
2. Ant Mill
Ant Mill does anything but creep about...it makes itself known with an almost thrashy riff right out of the gate. The rollicking bass line really drives the track along, providing a heavy contrast as the husky, melodic vocals glide triumphantly above. Ant Mill smartly uses frequent pace changes that tend to alternate between that pseudo-thrashy turbulence and a spiraling, psychedelic doom interlude. All of this power culminates in a herculean sludgy outro, as if the song itself is overtaken by a colossal titan.
3. Miracle of the Sun
Ethereal and dreamlike in tone, this song's lyrics pertain to the Miracle of the Sun (Milagre do Sol), an event that took place in Fátima, Portugal (the band's namesake) on October 13, 1917. Three shepherd children prophesied that the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Fátima) would perform miracles on that date. The large crowd that gathered reported uncanny solar activity; the sun seeming to "dance" in the sky, hurtle toward Earth, and change colors, for a span of about ten minutes.
Fátima's Oriental influences shine through brilliantly with appropriately sunny, golden tones on the song, giving an authentic air of mysticism and wonder as the listener envisions the Miracle of Fátima.
4. Portuguese Man o'war
Miracle of the Sun seamlessly bleeds into Portuguese Man o'war as Fátima further draws upon an Oriental style. This is melded with hulking reverberations to create an experience that is both blissfully hypnotic and ominously heavy - something that the band does incredibly well.
5. Cyclops Cave
Cyclops Cave parallels Ant Mill with its heft and churning, prominent bass line (if it wasn't clear before, Eerie is chock full of killer bass lines). Cyclops Cave might just be even heavier, as it takes no breaks. The momentum of the song propels it forward like a hurricane straight to the end.
6. Hypericum
(Hypericum is a genius of flowering plants commonly known as St. John's wort, often used as an herbal remedy for depression).
Much like Ceremonies, this song features hushed, solemn verses that build into soaring, resounding choruses. Booming drums and heavy, percussive guitar and bass conclude the song in a spiraling torrent, illustrating a feeling of losing control. Hypericum is an incredibly emotive song, downright sorrowful and heart wrenching at its core, and it's delivered in a powerful, passionate way. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album, its somber, haunting resonance giving me instant cold chills.
7. Mosul Orb
(This song's title refers to an alleged UFO sighting in Mosul, Iraq, when a metallic orb was filmed by a US military spy plane in an active conflict zone. Though the footage is available to the public, the US Department of Defense has remained tight-lipped about the incident).
Mosul Orb has a lot going on in the best way, and is a great representation of the things Fátima does best. Maintaining a Middle Eastern desert vibe throughout, the song begins on a note of trepidation as its weightiness increases and pace slows. By the end, a thick, sludgy trudge lumbers under spacey distortion and low-pitched, unintelligible vocalizations, giving the most fitting eerie feeling.
8. Three Eyed Enoch
This is another song that beautifully calls upon the desert with choppier guitar and bass that dance with the low and slow pace of doom and intricate psychedelia, capped off with another perfectly chaotic ending. This is one of my favorite aspects of Fátima's sound: the combining of a soaring, nearly spiritual sound with the immensely heavy.
An awesome live performance of "Three Eyed Enoch" from the Studioblow Session YouTube Channel.
9. Blue Aliens Wears Wigs
Eerie ends on a rather soothing note with Blue Aliens Wears Wigs, taking on a much slower flow overall but still providing a lot of heaviness post-chorus. In spite of this, the overall feeling is quite captivating and meditative; those heavy moments only add to the immersive, mesmeric nature of the song.
Final Thoughts
Fátima is truly a band that checks all the boxes (and then some) for me, delivering on all of my favorite facets of music:
Melodic, but not overly clean vocals? You bet. (Major bonus points for the grungy vocal tones as well).
A wordly sound that uses influences from other countries and cultures in a sophisticated manner? You bet.
A perfect balance of the more delicate and the intensely heavy sides of rock/metal (such as malleable, kaleidoscopic psychedelic rock vs. dense, syrupy sludge)? It's all there.
All of these things on their own are great, but it takes a particularly talented band to put them all together in such a way that not only sets a brilliant scene, but creates a palpable mood. It's like a story you can feel and visualize as much as you can hear.
All of that said, the most refreshing thing about Fátima for me is just how much their various influences and interests shine through in their music. According to the band, these interests include Oriental melodies, doom metal, 60s monster movies, gross cartoons from the 90s, dinosaurs, and Paul Verhoeven's films to name a few. All of these are either heard in Fátima's intensely immersive music or seen in the incredibly creative and detailed nature of their DIY endeavors. (Case in point: Pochette, who adorns the cover of Eerie). In an era rife with insincerity, deceit, and the hot-button issue of AI, it's both relieving and heartening to see bands like Fátima who not only take an incredibly genuine approach, but have undeniable creative and musical talent.
Eerie is an album that is sure to remain on heavy rotation for me, and I hope it will for you too.
This lovely vinyl for "Eerie" can be ordered on Fátima's website, along with CDs and merch.
More About Fátima
You can stream Fátima's music and follow them at the following links:
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