atmospheric black metal
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I have always loved the mystery surrounding black metal. Many acts conceal themselves into obscurity, using pseudonyms, wearing corpse-paint and seemingly coming out of nowhere to deliver smashing albums and performances before once again disappearing into the night. Solus, for example, is a one-man project, moving in the region of depressive black metal. The sole member goes by the name 'D.' and hails from Nagyatád, a town in Somogy county, Hungary. He has been active in the Hungarian underground for several years now and already recorded several demos, e.p.'s and splits.
This untitled album is the first one I've ever heard from Solus but it's right up my blackened alley. It's been a while since I've heard this kind of atmospheric black metal but it never ceases to amaze me. The combination of dreamy keyboards, bleak guitars and haunted vocals have been a favorite for decades, even since I Vinterriket for the first time. Opener 'Visszatérés' is a brilliant anthem, perfectly combining all these elements but leaving out the fierce blast beats.
'Világok Közt Vándorló' finally brings out these intense drums, immediately showing the variation and craftsmanship put into this album. 'Elfeledett Utak' once again takes on the slower approach and suddenly I'm reminded of some post-rock anthems. However, in a way it seems like post-rock borrowed these elaborate instrumental passages from atmospheric black metal bands because I heard stuff like this way before post-rock was even invented. Anyway, on this album these passages are simply great.
The album continues in a highly varied fashion. 'Az Örök Körforgás' returns the speed and intensity of old school black metal for a little while, before driving on an immersive mid-tempo paste. 'Path Of Wisdom' jumps on the same wagon and is another great song. At this time I find myself, nodding along with this sluggish, almost hypnotic tempo and trying to find out what D. is screaming about. That is no easy task, considering the haunted, screaming sound of the vocals, especially not in a language I don't speak.
To make the song-by-song feel of this review complete, I can only add that closer 'Lebegés' is another possible favorites-candidate, but this time consisting of strange soundscapes and a downright bleak atmosphere in perfect dark ambient fashion. So if you're into bands like Nortt, Summoning, Paysage d'Hiver or Burzum, this comes highly recommended. In all, 'Solus' is an excellent album with five great songs and one colossal anthem which might be one of my favorite black metal songs of all time ('Visszatérés').
Serge
This untitled album is the first one I've ever heard from Solus but it's right up my blackened alley. It's been a while since I've heard this kind of atmospheric black metal but it never ceases to amaze me. The combination of dreamy keyboards, bleak guitars and haunted vocals have been a favorite for decades, even since I Vinterriket for the first time. Opener 'Visszatérés' is a brilliant anthem, perfectly combining all these elements but leaving out the fierce blast beats.
'Világok Közt Vándorló' finally brings out these intense drums, immediately showing the variation and craftsmanship put into this album. 'Elfeledett Utak' once again takes on the slower approach and suddenly I'm reminded of some post-rock anthems. However, in a way it seems like post-rock borrowed these elaborate instrumental passages from atmospheric black metal bands because I heard stuff like this way before post-rock was even invented. Anyway, on this album these passages are simply great.
The album continues in a highly varied fashion. 'Az Örök Körforgás' returns the speed and intensity of old school black metal for a little while, before driving on an immersive mid-tempo paste. 'Path Of Wisdom' jumps on the same wagon and is another great song. At this time I find myself, nodding along with this sluggish, almost hypnotic tempo and trying to find out what D. is screaming about. That is no easy task, considering the haunted, screaming sound of the vocals, especially not in a language I don't speak.
To make the song-by-song feel of this review complete, I can only add that closer 'Lebegés' is another possible favorites-candidate, but this time consisting of strange soundscapes and a downright bleak atmosphere in perfect dark ambient fashion. So if you're into bands like Nortt, Summoning, Paysage d'Hiver or Burzum, this comes highly recommended. In all, 'Solus' is an excellent album with five great songs and one colossal anthem which might be one of my favorite black metal songs of all time ('Visszatérés').
Serge
