With so much darkness and negativity that surround us, a beam of hope would be welcome. I write this before the U.S. presidential election knowing it’ll run right after the election, and the word “hope” might have a much different context then. But the present is what matters, and it would be nice to know there’s light on the other side of the battle.
Icelandic dreamers Sólstafir are trying to be that speck of illumination in the storm, and their great new record “Hin helga kvöl” is a revelation. This, their seventh, is their most adventurous yet, which is saying something because this band has been anything but stationary musically. Here, the band—vocalist/guitarist Adalbjorn Tryggvason, guitarist Saethor “Gringo” Saethorsson, bassist Svavar Traustason, drummer Hallgrimur “Grimsi” Hallgrimsson—branches even further from black metal and adds more straight-up rock elements, a touch of Western dust, post-rock dynamics, and even a few rounds of brutality. This is their most diverse collection, and it’s one that will lure you easily back to it repeatedly, with you only too happy to follow.
“Hún andar” starts lush. and then it pushes into fluidity and punchy melodies, the strong singing making waves, even if the language barrier prevents me from fully understanding. There’s a gush that whisks into the next terrain, energy bursting from corners, fading into exhaust. “Hin helga kvöl” slowly unfurls as it electrifies, black metal-style fires blazing, equally volatile singing answering the bell and splattering. The leads cause lines to freeze, and then the whole thing rampages, the playing coming to a dangerous spiral, turning fully into madness. “Blakkrakki” has guitars chugging, the signing gliding, your nerve endings quivering. Tryggvason wails the title over the simple, yet effective chorus, a spirited gust picking up the pace, a full-hearted rush blasting into the final moments. “Sálumessa” is immersed with darkness and echoes, the singing exploring as the pathway gets a little gentler, working through a fog and aligning with shadows. The guitar work thickens and blankets everything in ash, the moodiness increases, and the cold winds beckon, pulling you into the heart of the night.
“Vor ás” is hazy and hangs in the atmosphere, a propulsive call and response making blood rush, the pace sweating as the humidity swarms. The playing gets more aggressive, generating smoke, grittier singing from Tryggvason meeting with Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir’s backing vocals that add a new texture. The playing delves into a classic rock feel at moments, adding some nostalgia, ending in a blaze. “Freygátan” opens with pianos dripping and softer singing, the pace gradually growing heartier as it builds strength. Guitars fall like sheets before the track bursts, the leads leaning into Floyd-like psychedelic dreaming, then everything rumbles until falling to ash. “Grýla” is dirtier, the tempo swelling as the drums menace, the singing digging deeper into your chest as the sojourn extends. A strange warmth, giving off a dusty Western vibe, bubbles to the surface, making the track feel both catchy and homey, storming out in melody. “Nú mun ljósið deyja” ripples with black metal energy, the howls ravaging as speed and viciousness become major factors. The path turns hypnotic, melodies battering away, screams rippling and causing seismic waves. Closer “Kuml (forspil, sálmur, kveðja)” emerges amid eerie chants and an aura that sends chills, synth and sax splashing new colors. The cosmic stretch gets more intense as fuzzy power bubbles over, elegant sax sets the mood for the end, and you feel like you’re in the clutches of a late-night fever dream, your hallucinations getting the best of you.
Sólstafir’s excursion into more varied sounds and realms that exist beyond just black metal is growing increasingly ambitious and alluring, which “Hin helga kvöl” proves outright. With the temps about to drop (or so we’re led to believe) and more interesting dusk skies ahead, this is perfect music for that moment, the retreat from light into black. The emotion, darkness, and increaaing light built into this record play off each other magically, and it’s a record that reveals more of itself every listen, which should be an impetus to go back again and again.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/solstafirice
To buy the album (U.S.), go here: https://centurymedia.store/
Or here (International): https://www.cmdistro.de/
For more on the label, go here: https://www.centurymedia.com/
Meat Mead Metal 