This light might be pale and somewhat bleak but it’s not without warm shades to go with it. Soul Dissolution play a form of melancholic post black metal and come from Belgium. They are a duo of Jabawock and Acharan who come from a background of other bands such as L’Hiver en Deuil & Marche Funèbre so this should give some indication of what to expect. Pale Distant Light is their debut album following on from a demo in 2014 and it is evident they have spent a lot of time and care in its construction as everything about it is confident, mature and flows seamlessly together.
Starting with some lush acoustics that wouldn’t be out of place in modern Anathema or Alcest ‘Waiting’ gently flows into being in a light and airy sense. Guitar chugs in and you are aware this is going to be a richly melodic affair especially when the caress of soothing violin adds to the tapestry. Weeping guitar lines and then Acharan’s vocals, which are somewhat harsher than anticipated are next and the whole combination meshes together perfectly and carries you off without force but to coast along with it. Lyrically it’s poetic and with the melancholic vibe of the music it’s easy to lose yourself in it all. That said not paying close attention could leave you drifting off along with it all as things continue and the riffs and vocals become a beat more urgent on ‘The Red Painting In The Sky.’ There is a sense of familiarity about the material that could have you taking it for granted but it is also unique and you will find yourself more rewarded from the overall experience by paying close attention to it all. The jagged strum of ‘And Every Single Step…’ is forceful and sees the drums gallop off after having previously been reigned in. The swagger is welcome and shows that the duo are willing to put feet down on the pedal and go for it. It’s not all breakneck pace here though and again the subtle strains of the violin bring it down from the boil along with some clean vocals which are also subtly employed.
There’s a few instrumental tracks breaking the 51 minute album up and it has a 3 part number ‘The Final Dissolution’ making up the bulk of the second half. When the gravity of first part ‘Hatred Spawned From Longing’ hits, you know you are in for something epic. Sure enough it bursts into the heaviest and blackest part of the album, racing off and furrowing away. After a heavy storm the 2nd part ‘Field Of Stones’ steps back and surveys the devastation via an instrumental of gorgeous lush fragility, you can really feel the clouds lifting. It’s ‘The Pale Distant Light’ itself that takes us to the climax here adding a power and rugged groove over things and a brooding temperament proving a song of varied intertwined parts, delivering various moods and emotions. Final instrumental segment ‘Echoes Of Dissolution’ brings this enthralling journey to a conclusion but stick around for a superior cover of October Tide’s ‘Sweetness Dies.’
Take a step into the light at the links below and experience it all for yourself
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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