Over the past twenty years or so Sólstafir have garnered an enviable reputation within the metal community, with a fan base that crosses genres, matching their indomitable, hard to define style. Starting out as a black metal outfit, albeit with a twist and distinctive style, the Icelanders have subsequently pushed the boundaries of their sound, now incorporating huge swathes of post metal and post rock. The latest album ‘Hin Helga Kvöl’ continues this evolution, although there are still nods to the black metal roots.
Opening track ‘Hún Andar’ is immediately identifiable as Sólstafir with a melancholic guitar hook and distinctive, emotive vocals, before the track opens up with a groove laden rhythm and is everything you’d expect of modern day Sólstafir with a catchy melody and evocative vocals. The title track builds slowly around a hypnotic guitar riff and drums before it bursts into one of the heaviest tracks Sólstafir have released for a while, reminding us that at their core they are still an extreme metal band. While this is different from a lot of their modern day material, it fits well on the album and no doubt will go down well live. The momentum is kept up on ‘Blakkrakki’ and it’s simple but beguiling melody, before a change in atmosphere on ‘Sálumessa’. Bringing to mind tracks such as ‘Fjara’, ‘Ótta’ or even ‘Silfur-refur’, this sprawling, atmospheric masterpiece is one of the highlights on this album as it builds around its evocative central melody. There is a desolate air, as the raw vocals strain with emotion. There is a beauty here, but also tinges of sadness as the track pulls in several directions all at once and it is hard to not feel emotional as it washes over you, slowly pulling you under.
In contrast, ‘Vor ás’ serves as a wake up call, clicking its fingers and pulling you back to the here and now with a sense of urgency, before the more reserved yet emotional ‘Freygátan’. Things get a little heavier again with ‘Grýla’ and then even more so with ‘Nú mun ljósið deyja’ which strays back to black metal territory, before the serene ‘Kuml’, a chilled out jazz inspired number which builds to an intense climax before the album drifts back down to a more serene close.
‘Hin Helga Kvöl’ is everything you’d expect from a Sólstafir album with distinctive vocals, anthemic yet sprawling and majestic melodies, at times there is a sense of urgency and at others it is emotive and melancholic. There are ventures into black metal, as well as the expected post metal forays and as such it covers a lot of ground, and a lot of the Icelanders history.
If you are already a fan of the band, you need to give this a listen and even if you’re not a fan of the band, this is a great chance to revisit them and mend the error of your ways. Highly recommended.
9/10 Andy Pountney
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