Some things in life can be relied upon, and the Finnish Black Metal scene is one of them, spawning a seemingly endless supply of bands ready to scorch the world with their nasty, vitriolic outpourings. Solacide are one such band, perhaps not as raw of some of their peers but no less aggressive or confrontational. ‘Fall from Eternity’ is only their second album, despite having been around since 2005, but this experience shows on what is a mature, evolved album exploring a variety of atmospheres and dynamics building a vast landscape of darkness.
The opening track (and also title track) is perhaps the most vitriolic on the album, a scything, unrelenting black metal assault laying the foundation for what is to follow. ‘Forsaken by Gods’ is a little less direct but not less intense as it begins to incorporate sweeping undercurrents, generating more atmosphere which works well. This is followed by a short melodic instrumental piece which juxtaposes effectively with the aggression that came before.
This leads into ‘Far Beyond Reality’ which is the stand out track on the album for me, veering into more melodic territory. Dissection came to mind while listening to this track before screaming guitars heralded the climax. There is a more claustrophobic feel for ‘The Coldest Night, which also brings an uneasy feeling of malevolence before another short melodic interlude which leads into the final track ‘Away from Light’. This opus clocks in at over ten minutes, really giving it time and space to evolve and develop. Pulsating rhythms and deliberate vocals are at the heart of this and as the track progresses, the black metal morphs into a melodic instrumental finish which is almost soothing in its effect.
Perhaps the thing that I enjoyed most about this album was that each track was different with its own style and personality. It is undoubtedly a black metal album, but different corners of the genre are effectively explored as it ebbs and flows, and while this may have ended up being clumsy, this actually works really well and it sits together perfectly as one piece of work. I really enjoyed this and recommend it to anyone who enjoys dabbling in the dark underbelly of our musical world.
(8/10 Andy Pountney)
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