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Sólstafir: Köld
13/03/09 || Euthanatos
I love it when an album is so different and creative, it totally blows my mind and defies labeling. “Köld” is one of those albums. It’s not black metal, folk metal, epic extreme metal, battle metal, post-metal or viking metal, but there are elements of all those sub-genres in Sólstafir. Apparently the band started out as pretty straight-forward black/viking-metal, I wouldn’t know as this is the first album of theirs I’ve listened to, but they certainly have come a long way. The depth and taste in this album is mesmerizing and a wonder to behold. It’s not surprising, though, you have to get creative when you live in fucking Iceland.
If there is one word to define Sólstafir’s songs, it’s epic. They are all around the 8 minute mark, and what’s amazing is that you never get bored by them. It’s pretty easy to get lost in the whole atmosphere of cold oblivion that these tracks drag you into, and I mean that in the best way possible.
The tracks are mostly driven by the instrumental in “Köld”, although there are vocals. When they do appear, they are despair-filled screams that carry a surprising sense of melody. As a matter of fact, the whole ambiance of this album is driven by an idea that resembles hopelessness. I can’t really compare this with any other band that I know of. I’d say people that enjoy both Enslaved and bands like Neurosis and Isis are going to enjoy it, although not necessarily. As I said before, it’s not quite post-metal, and there is still a lot of folkish/viking metal influence here. Something truly different and inspiring that I can only hope more people will come to know in the future.
The cover: Even the cover is ace. A soul leaving a body. See how something so simple can make a good cover? Take fucking note.
8 sad vikings out of 10.
* Information- Released: 2009
- Label: Spikefarm Records
- Website: Sólstafir MySpace
- Band
- Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: guitars, vocals
- Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson: guitars
- Svavar Austman: bass
- Guðmundur Óli Pálmason: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. 78 days in the Desert
- 02. Köld
- 03. Pale Rider
- 04. She Destroys Again
- 05. Necrologue
- 06. World Void of Souls
- 07. Love is the Devil (and I am in Love)
- 08. Goddess of the Ages
