Saturday, November 30, 2024

SÓLSTAFIR : "Hin helga kvöl"




 


I'm old enough to remember when this band from Iceland used to be black metal. They have been on this more rock n roll road for some time, so the direction never surprises me. The vocals are emotive and have more edge than your average rock band, The use of atmosphere works really well, as they start off the album with a strong dynamic balance. On the title track, they also remember when they were a metal band as their drummer really starts getting it. As things build up they even catch a groove that makes me think of Slayer. "Blakkrakki" has more punk drive to it, though the guitar melodies bring it into a more straight-up rock n roll-like place with its more Motorhead-like nuance. 

"Salumessa" ebbs back down to an almost more psychedelic place, with dusky shadows holding sonic space. The way the effects sit on the vocals makes me think they are winking in Pink Floyd's direction. At the very least smoking a lot of pot."Vor as" feels like a more soaring build-up from the previous song. "Freygatan' breaks things down to piano which I was not expecting. it shifts into a power ballad. The vocals are a little pitchy in places, but the overall vibe works. It's like Kvelertak covering Pink Floyd. 

"Gryla" is raw and emotive, but has a grunge-tinged clanging of the guitars. The chords ring like something from Neil Young's heavier Crazy Horse years, The vocals have a wild howl to them while being mindful they are playing rock not metal. The way things keep getting spacey lends more weight to my weed theory. They begin to gather more metallic steam on the buzzing blur of "Nu Mun.."  I appreciate the intensity, but it's not the album's best song. The last song finds them working in more of their ethnic folk roots. However they are still smoking a ton of weed, so saxophones and synths are pulled out to make the most of the mood. They lay the ambiance on thick and jam this one out. I will give this album a 9, I like the direction they are going here, and think the more weed-influenced songs are better than when they try to rekindle the metal fires. 



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