Review HERETOIR “Solastalgia”

One of the bands that has gained momentum in recent years is Heretoir from Germany. The three-piece band from Augsburg, Bavaria, adds a strong emotional impact to their music, making their albums a great listening experience.

Two years after launching “Nightsphere, ” the band returns with their next album, “Solastalgia.” The group has found the perfect balance of heaviness and a blackened soul that runs through the entire album. This is evident in the first song, “The Ashen Falls.” “Solastalgia” is a real term that describes the feeling of loss when experiencing a change or destruction of one’s habitat. It is a combination of the Latin sōlācium (solace) and the Greek -algia (pain, suffering). The new album from Heretoir is the perfect musical equivalent of these emotions, which resonate in the opener and each of the eleven songs.

“Solastalgia” is a heavyhearted album that alternates between brutal post-metal outbursts, as in “Season of Grief,” and atmospheric moments, as in “Dreamgatherer.” Within this framework, the band operates with a melancholic mood running through each of the eleven songs. Sometimes, harsh screams evoke strong emotions, while clean vocals and larger soundscapes act as rays of sunlight during darker times.

A highlight of the album is the title track, which perfectly captures this emotional tug-of-war. It is a dark song that begins acoustically and almost fragilely. It gains heaviness along the way, morphing into a nine-minute epic about loss and grief. The slower pace intensifies the emotional impact, while the breaks and blasting parts express the full extent of the despair.

Another noteworthy tune is “Rain.” Georg Brauneck’s piano plays an important role in this interlude, providing a peaceful moment on an intense record. The album also features “The Same Hell MMXXV,” a song the band released as a single in 2024. This new interpretation remains close to the original, yet it feels more impactful within the scope of the entire album.

Last but not least, Heretoir covers the In Flames song “Metaphor.” Originally released on the album “Reroute to Remain,” the acoustic song is a great addition to “Solastalgia” and concludes the new Heretoir album on an emotional note.

“Solastalgia” is a great album and the richest one released by Heretoir to date. The band has taken a step forward, managing to evoke a wide range of emotions through their music. The musicians demonstrate excellent craftsmanship, constructing ten songs that reflect an enormous range. They do so without running the risk of creating a scattered album. The dark, emotional clouds and melancholy of each song connect the ten chapters of this album, which has so much to explore. Enjoy these songs, and consider the lyrics to be food for thought.