I'm not very familiar with Sólstafir's older releases, but the tag "viking metal" seems to come up a lot. 'Promo 2004' differs from any typical viking metal album like wood differs from stone. Sólstafir means that when sun's beams can be seen through clouds. The band have a fitting name, because this is both, dark and light.

Three songs in almost 40 minutes, but there's no blank spaces. I don't know if it's that shot of the band with one guy wearing a cowboy hat, I think, and cover art showing a cow skull in desert, but opening riff of 'I Myself...' sounds the Wild West with galloping rhythm! Then comes doomy part something like old Paradise Lost, but way groovier. The music has definitive rock feel (wah-wah pedal noticed). When the song reaches 3 minute mark, a loooong jamming part begins. Some theme is repeated almost to ad infinitum with slight variation (that's jamming). Song kinda stops and it takes minutes to get it going again and basically, it doesn't include many different parts. Basically, that is. The song has the feeling of longing, and even blast beats don't make it violent. 'Bloodsoaked Velvet' has a Wild West riff ot two, too! While being groovy, the song has also a sad feel to it. Instrumental 'Ritual of Fire' sounds actually happy and positive, and do I have to mention, the Wild West. So, this consists of metal, prog rock, maybe even stoner rock. The sound is live, with a lot of reverb in guitars. Vocals are harsh, shouted. Distant similarities might be ...In The Woods' more rock 'n' broad-minded stuff, Kyuss and their instrumental parts and Hawkwind to some extent.

If you seek violent black metal, this has none of it. If you seek easy music, this has none of it. This sounds like a jam for a big part. I didn't get pictures of Iceland in my mind while listening to this, even though it's the country of cold and hot things! This is just so universal or something.

Reviewed by Lane
09/14/2004 23:51