Whilst I may well harp on about a lack of originality in bands these days, it is important to not forget those that have no interest in rewriting the rule 
book, but are happy to pay homage to the bands and sounds that shaped metal today. Sweden’s In Solitude are one such group, and this is a very welcome reissue of their 2008 self-titled debut which has long been as difficult to locate as a unicorn lair outside of North Korea.
To listen to this album for the first time without knowing anything of them, you would immediately assume that they were one of the lost greats from the original NWOBHM era, with a sound that carries the DNA of everything from Angel Witch to Iron Maiden to Mercyful Fate. This is classic metal and no mistake, so when you consider not only that this was originally released only 5 years ago and that singer Pelle Åhman was only 16 at the time, this becomes all the more remarkable. The occult overtones of the music immediately shoot Mercyful Fate to the front of the queue when it comes to the primary influence, but the twin guitar melodies have far more to thank Dave Murray and Adrian Smith for, especially around the time of ‘Killers’. Åhman’s vocal range stays predominately in the mid to low ranges, although there are some higher backing vocals, especially on ‘Witches Sabbath’ that remind you that the King’s influence is never far away.
The quality is evident from the word go, but if you are not hooked by the time you reach ‘Kathedral’ then your appreciation of metal is seriously flawed. There is a skill and a care about the songwriting craft that is so often sadly lacking in so much modern metal. The sound is complex but never crowded, and there is an economy about the riffing and solos that truly show that very often less is more. The songs carry a theme but never run into each other, making each one instantly identifiable. The pace of ‘Faceless Mistress’ is a reminder of how powerful faster metal could be in the days before we were exposed to thrash, death and black metal and the riffs and melodies are clear yet all carry a sense of foreboding and evil in their tone, and as such you get a general feeling of unease and excitement, as if you were spying on a ritual sacrifice.
Are you old enough to remember what it was like to listen to this sort of music without it being considered a niche throwback, or a knowing homage? I am, and listening to In Solitude brings back all kinds of wonderful memories of the time. Much like Angel Witch’s album of last year, In Solitude sound as if they have just come from a time capsule. So much has happened in the world of heavy metal over the past 30 years that we cannot simply unlearn it, or so you would think. In Solitude proves that this is possible. There is so much to absolutely love about this album, from the mature vocal performance, to the simple yet effective crafting of the songs to the brilliant musicianship on display; I struggle to find any fault with it whatsoever. If you love classic metal and you have not yet discovered In Solitude, I urge you to rectify that immediately. I honestly cannot recommend this album highly enough.
(9.5/10 Lee Kimber)
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