This is heady stuff and music that necessitates the lighting of incense to smother the air with fragrance and thick cloying plumes of smoke. Sol Kia are comprised of two Belgian ritualists Stephane Van Tricht who is responsible for vocals and lyrics and CZLT instruments. The latter is a founding member of Neptunian Maximalism a group who have tortured a couple of writers with their intense and sprawling opuses as well as Ôros Kaù. The label also points out this is one that should appeal to those who like USBM band Skaphe which I do, so it was a no brainer grabbing this to review.
The 45-minute journey takes us into the netherworlds via opener ‘Sulphur’ and sets about shaking to the core with its downright scary and sinister dark vibes. Drums hone in, screeches vocally terrorise and a discombobulating sound deluge, with everything contorting in a miasma of bilious smog overpowers the senses. Although obviously black there is a Krautish backbone and psychedelia via repetitive trance like beats is the forbidden key that unlocks this particular kingdom. Oranssi Pazuzu are another source to drop in here as the nightmarish void opens and leaves the listener contemplating the monstrous slow doomy cacophony of 11-minute number ‘Mithraeum’. Things throb musically with thick bass contortions, the vocals gibbering with abject lunacy at their heart. Some jazz like contortions are at the backdrop as the heavyset sound blows out the speakers leaving both them and you shaking at their trembling might. It ebbs out with a luxurious dark ambient sprawl and some horrendous screams and eerie whispers curdling the blood before a sudden cauterising explosion sonically devastates at culmination.
After some short digital glitching proves even more baffling the middle section of the album furthers the entrancement. Strange percussion is struck and resonates, mysticism thickens, spells are no doubt cast. ‘Nasatanada Zazas!’ is a Satanic invocation just in case you were not certain that this is firmly leading down the left- hand path; Middle Eastern cabbalism is conjured via the sounds of a sitar. It’s all strange, otherworldly and enthralling leading down dark passageways to the rite of the horrendous sounding cacophony of ‘Hoathahe Saitan!’ where surely a human blood sacrifice is taking place. Escaping is not a prospect as we witness this ghastly practice in musical form and we have to still endure the labyrinthine and epic closing piece ‘Kosmik Katatonik Korpse’ still before we can stumble out into the light again; droning frequencies, sounds of brass and beastly inhuman vocals following every step of the way.
Sol Kia really have taken us firmly on a voyage into the heart of darkness here but despite the challenging nature of the beast it is one that will transfix and reward those prepared to endure it. The horror….
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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