Review SÓLSTAFIR “Hin helga kvöl”

“Hin helga kvöl” is the title of Sólstafir‘s latest work and the band takes the next step in their development. The Icelandic post-rock giants have created another dedicated album with nine songs that are as majestic as the landscape of the island in the far north.

Listening to the first three songs on this musical gem gives a great overview of what to expect from this release. There is the dark and melancholic “Hun andar”. It’s an emotional highlight that kicks off “Hin helga kvöl”, which by the way means “the holy suffering”. Although the song is shrouded in shades of gray, it also has a beautiful melody and a very powerful beat. Rarely has melancholy sounded so appealing.

The title track is a different story. It’s a heavy riff that cuts through the cinematic intro and is the kickstart for a furious and raging song with some black metal hints. The title track is one of the heaviest ones on the album, reflecting the inner conflicts that are always touched by some rays of light.

Desperation and rage is what the song is built on and as it contains some well-placed breaks, the overall flow is guaranteed throughout these six minutes. The four-piece manages to keep the basic spirit alive. This song is like the mighty eruption of an Icelandic volcano that spits out the lava of the soul in a seemingly endless way.

Compared to the title track, the following “Blakkrakki” is almost like a treat for the senses. This doesn’t mean that we are facing a calm song with a lot of ease. It’s more the catchy melody and the straightforward drive that allow the listener to dive into this well-crafted anthem. It is one of the rocking moments on the album that immediately reveals its blackened beauty.

“Hin helga kvöl” also has the quieter moments and one of them is titled “Salumessa”. It’s a slow and haunting piece of music that comes with a strong emotional expression. It is a song that goes straight to the heart and unfolds a great impact with its grandeur. “Salumessa” is also the longest song on the album with a running time of more than seven minutes. The up-tempo “Nu mun ljosi deyja” represents another aspect of the band’s straightforward approach to songwriting. “Hin helga kvöl” contains shorter songs that also challenged the band and led to a great result that can be enjoyed on this longplayer.

Sólstafir’s latest album is a musical symbiosis of melancholy, sadness and hope. It’s this field of tension from which each of these nine songs draws its energy from. “Hin helga kvöl” is a rich and soulful release that fits perfectly into the gray season of autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere, strengthened by the quiet and choral closer “Kuml” that sounds like an ode to the beauty of music. Great album.