Eldrovian - The Hourglass of Apathy

Eldrovian is a one-man funeral doom metal band from Iceland, who released their debut EP “The Forgotten Element, “in 2025.  Little time has been wasted—the project now consists of three EPs and a full-length album.  That’s amazing, especially when you consider the same musician behind this project also does Dauðaró (one of my favorite doom metal acts of the past few years), Dread of Immortality, Synthabsentia, and Skynbrögð). 

What I’m reviewing today is the project’s latest EP, “The Hourglass of Apathy.”  It may “just” be an EP but there is over 27 minutes of music across its two songs—and both are worthy of your time and of the funeral doom pantheon. 

I like the production/mix.  It’s definitely not crystal clear nor is it raw; it sits somewhere comfortably in between the two worlds.  This offers all the details to be heard (of which there are many) yet it still sounds bottomless.  

As with any funeral doom, this is an esoteric experience.  If you are a fan of the style, then the talent it took to write these two mini epics will be evident from the first second to the last.  If funeral doom isn’t your thing, then you might have a harder time getting into this EP.  However, I suggest you take the time and try to acquire this dark taste.  Yes, it’s slow and abrasive but it’s also atmospheric and loaded with smart song writing.  To make music of this nature, and to keep it interesting throughout, is no easy feat. Listen to this album, from beginning to end, and truly let yourself become one with it.  Absorb this as it absorbs you and the result will be a new being with a new perspective on just what funeral doom can accomplish. 

So, let’s dive into these two songs.  It probably goes without saying but neither follows anything that could be classified as "conventional" in terms of the structure of the songs.  But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any flow.  On the contrary, these songs flow remarkably well and neither of them feel as long as they are.  But they have to be this long—there is no time wasted here and every second matters. 

The first song is “Sand Without Weight,” and it begins with a sinking feeling highlighted by a pulsing base, ticking away as guitars, keys, and ambient songs come into the foreground.  Like a dust storm slowly building to optimum power, these instruments come together though they were never truly formless.  Again, everything that happens has a purpose and everything is building towards something.  

The vocals are just as important as the instruments and, well, are instruments themselves. These low rumbles seep their way in between the spaces that live between the notes, like a living entity of considerable power.    As heavy handed as the beginning is, lighter moments exist around the 5-minute mark, but they are only so in presentation as their tone and language convey just as much as the heavier pieces they so well accompany. 

My favorite part is from 10 minutes all the way to end, at just past 14 minutes in length.  It’s a very stark concept of all the pieces rising to this towering, dismal sky like some kind of unearthly beacon sending out a trigger pulse to something we are painfully unaware of. 

The second song is “The Slow Forgetting,” and it’s very interesting from the very first seconds.  The keys are quite funeral in nature yet there is something about them I can’t quite put my finger on.  Maybe it’s the loss of innocence, or the futile quest for immortality but it definitely made me think–and feel. 

I really like how these keys keep their own momentum going while the rest of the instruments move forward as well.  It’s the same journey with the same goal but a different path that runs parallel to each other.  The barest hint of melody appears around the 5-minute mark before dropping off a cliff into a spacey ambience of sorts.  It’s unhinged and more than a little unnerving, but it works. 

The second half of the song reminds me why I love funeral doom so much.  This would probably sound like noise to your average person (frickin posers) but to me and others blessed with good taste, this is a cacophony of music that makes sense, a sort of twisted beauty that so few can appreciate but it lights the way for those who do. 

The last couple of minutes winds the album down, ending it on as much of an epic note as it began but the fade out leaves a lasting impression.  What did I just hear?  Can I handle this again?  What will I discover next in the song?  Or perhaps within myself?

Music that can bring about these questions and help us sail towards new horizons must be respected.  Eldrovian’s “The Hourglass of Apathy,” is a musical journey that took me to places that a lot of other genres can’t get around to.  Highly recommended, especially for doom fans but also people who want music that has a lot of depth and rewards for repeated listens. 

Rating:  Excellent