Sentinel Records compiled all the music that was ever recorded by Irish black metal band Sol Axis. Well, almost. 10 tracks with 8 own songs and two Bathory covers. Live version of 'Forever Grown Dead' that featured on 10-inch vinyl release with this same title, does not appear here.

Let's start with the 16+ minutes of debut recordings, 'Demo 2004'. They sound very cold, mixing Norwegian, Baltic and Irish vibes with ferociousness. Nasty tremolo or heavier riffing and mostly fast drumming with inhuman if almost comprehensible, slightly echoed throat-snarl vocals and bulldozing bass guitar presence are their main building blocks. They also include less distorted guitar picking. Generally, they sound like less melodiouss old Emperor and more death metal stylings of Gehenna (Norway), and are rather progressive in nature (all of their own songs last from 4½ to almost 7 minutes anyway), and more like devastating than catchy. The atmosphere is very much aversive and malicious, hopeless and callous. These demo songs sound good and powerful, thanks to studio recording on the contrary to bedroom or rehearsal space tape recording magik. Well, the demo was released on CD, and not tape, so that too makes the result sound clearer. The sound is punchy and also on the newer tracks, crisp.

'Intro' is a new piece consisting of repeated samples, suitably preparing for forthcoming cruelty with its industrial/war-like atmosphere. 'Through Red Soil' that was the first track on 10" vinyl, continues in very similar style as the demo, and 'Scars on Earth' does not bring any change, even though it is partly mid-paced. Sol Axis were a one-trick pony. They delivered with crudity, and were not for self-indulgent listeners, but for fans of certain black metal niche it can be gold.

Them Bathory covers, then... 'Raise the Dead' sounds fucking nasty, even without the original's intro. 'The Return of Darkess and Evil' is simplistic and very repetitive. They happen to be the catchiest songs here, and are delivered with style. They possess better sound quality as the originals, which alone makes them sound different. Track 8 is 'Through Red Soil' with alternative, tad more gruff vocals.

In all, this is a nice compilation of the band's work. It is no essential but for real black metal followers, though. The band, consisting of ex-members of Cruachan and Abaddon Incarnate and who now are in Mourning Beloveth and Vircolac, is on hold at the moment so let's see if they feel the black flames burning inside them again.

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
09/23/2018 11:04