Everybody’s favourite Icelandic cowboys are again, this time with their most mature and refined report to this point. Sólstafir‘s Hin helga kvöl is nothing wanting a masterpiece. I first found Sólstafir once they participant Maryland Dying Fest an excellent variety of years again. This when many of the bands performed within the large parking zone out in the midst of downtown Baltimore.
Sólstafir have been a fervent a part of the underground scene for a few years, flying slightly below the radar. One distinctive characteristic of the band that may have prevented them from better mainstream success has been their follow to solely sing tune of their native Icelandic, (wanting one song, “Her Fall From Grace” on their earlier report, Countless Twilight of Codependent Love launched again in 2020). Whereas Icelandic is perhaps one of the tough languages for foreigners to study, I’ve by no means minded the truth that I could not totally perceive what’s being sung. The music actually helps inform the story of their songs and I like to think about the lyrics as one thing that provides one other distinctive texture to their already complicated sonicspheres.
“Hun Andar” is the opening monitor. The plush guitars have nearly an indie sound to them whereas the percussion and rhythm kind a quite upbeat backdrop. Layered vocals give the tune some good texture.
The title monitor, “Hin Helga Kvöl” is a speed-infused rocker that’s reveals the band’s strong roots in metallic. After all, of their typical fashion, the foursome give us some twists and turns quite than depend on pure velocity or heft. It is a quite uncooked minimize, sonically, entrenched in black metallic origins. “Nu Mun Ljosio Deyja” is the same monitor that additionally will fulfill these on the lookout for one thing significantly heavy.
“Blakkrakki” is a enjoyable monitor with a an equally enjoyable video that has the band on a transferring flatbed taking part in throughout the Icelandic panorama. A departure from the heavy feelings often discovered of their music, it is a extra playful minimize that reveals that Solstafir can simply have some all out good instances as nicely. And if you happen to’re questioning what a “blakkrakki” is, it is merely a black canine. I hear some early U2 affect on this monitor, maybe that is why I can not seem to get it out of my head.
“Vor As” is a rocker. Maybe their closest factor to one thing you would possibly hear in an enviornment. Replete with feminine backing vocals, the band appears to drag a rabbit out of a hat right here. “Freygatan” is one other tune that is firmly entrenched in traditional rock roots. This one will evoke a little bit of David Gilmour with it is guitar solo that is available in in the direction of the top of the monitor.
Feelings run excessive in each “Gryla” and “Kuml.” Each very transferring and considerably bleak, nevertheless, followers of the band would anticipate nothing much less. Talking of the bands’ fan following, I’ve come to suppose that many will discover heaps to like on this latest report. An excessive amount of range and skilled songwriting provides Hin helga kvöl a clearly distinguished place within the band’s good catalog.
