111 days till W:O:A 2023.
I am staying in Iceland with Sólstafir. It was impossible for me to pick one album for the sake of this blog article. I've been all over the place with Sólstafir and I love everything I've heard so far. And I think this is part of Sólstafir's secret power. Their music is less about being contained to one album, one concept, one story. Their music is about atmosphere. About feelings. It is music to think to, to let your mind wander, to flee to other realms.
Formed in 1995 by Aðalbjörn Tryggvason (guitar, vocals), Halldór Einarsson (bass) and Guðmundur Óli Pálmason (drums), it took Sólstafir until 2002 until they were able to release their first album. By then Einarsson had left the band and had been replaced by Svavar Austmann. Sólstafir's debut album Í Blóði og Anda (2002) translates to "In blood and spirit" and is still pretty much rooted in black metal. I've listened to this album over and over and I really like it. While there are all the black metal elements present (cold an dissonant guitars, crashing cymbals, fast drumming, shrieking vocals), it is already audible where Sólstafir will go. The Underworld Song is so memorable and the meldodies are flowing freely, it is by far one of my favourite songs on this album. Another favourite of mine on this album is Bitch in Black, which starts very melodic with clean vocals like a folk song, but then progresses into a faster pace and more harsh atmosphere with growled vocals. With 9 songs and 57:00 minutes this is no album to listen to quickly, but it great to listen to on your headphones on your morning walk in the woods. I enjoyed every minute.
Next album I listened to was their sophomore album Masterpiece of Bitterness (2005). This album featured second guitarist Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson and marked a drastic change from black metal to post-metal. The opener I Myself the Visionary Head has a very progressive length of 19:58 minutes, quite a statement. The focus on this album lies on atmosphere alone. There are long instrumental and ambient sections in each song that keep repetaing itself, it is nearly hypnotizing.
There are sudden outbursts that will remind you you're still listening to metal though and there is still a raw edge to the music despite all the beauty. It is very hard to describe and you definitely have to be in the mood for this kind of music. If you are looking for something easyily digestible and a pick-me-up, you will be disappointed. If you can find the time to sit down for 70 minutes and stare gloomily out into the rain, this music will be your comfort blanket.
I skipped the third album Köld (2009) so far and have moved on to Svartir Sandar (2011). Again - it is hard to describe the kind of music you can hear here. It often doesn't sound like metal at all and sometimes even has a very vintage 70s rock feeling. Take Fjara for example which got its own music video and was incredibly popular in Iceland. When listening to this song I am pretty much having the same feelings I had when I listened to Alcest for the first time. There is a sense of wonder about how beautiful music can be and how easily it can touch your soul.
Sólstafir's sixth album Berdreyminn (2017) immediately caught my eye with its cover. My favourite songs on here are the opener Silfur-refur as well as Hula . This album was the first one without founding member and drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason who was replaced by Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson. Berdreyminn focuses a lot on instrumentation and invites you to go on another journey through misty landscapes of long forgotten times. The band is supported by symphonic instruments like horns, trumpets, violins and pianos as well as choirs and operatic vocals.
Sólstafir, like Alcest, very quickly became a band I absolutely love. Not just an album. Not just a song. Their music. It spoke to my heart. This is music I can pop into my headphones at any time of the day to escape reality. I am very much looking forward to hearing them play at Wacken this year and I am sure it will be magical.
Kommentar schreiben
Flori Wurmlord (Sonntag, 22 Oktober 2023 08:29)
Ich mag Kold (etwas rauer), Svatie Sandar und Otta. Letztere habe ich sicherlich am häufigsten gehört und verbinde die Scheibe mit unseren Fahrten durch die schottischen Highlands. Danach wurde mir die Band zu langatmig und zu wenig mitreißend…