Artist......: Solbrud
Album.......: IIII
Year........: 2024
Genre.......: Black Metal
Label.......: Vendetta Records
Source......: WEB (24bit)
Encoder.....: libFLAC
Bitrate.....: 2854kbps avg.
F.Rate......: 96.0kHz
Playtime....: 01:34:04 / 2054.8MB
R.Date......: 2024-02-01
S.Date......: 2024-02-02
Website.....: http://play.qobuz.com/album/euyj6an16hyza
Disc 1 / 2
01. Hvile 17:36
02. Tage 6:13
03. Nar Solen Brydes del I - En Undring Vaekkes I Mit Sind 2:04
04. Nar Solen Brydes del II - Mod Afgrundens Flammehav 11:27
05. Nar Solen Brydes del III - For Evigt, For Altid, Forandret 7:03
06. Nar Solen Brydes del IIII - En Ny Tid For Mig Star 3:20
Disc 2 / 2
01. Aedelrad 15:58
02. Sjaeleskrig 8:19
03. En Ild Som Tusind Sole 10:01
04. Aske 7:48
05. Postludium 4:15
Founded in 2009 in Denmark under the name Gargoyle, the band released three
albums before playing and recording an exceptional live show in a water
tower. In 2024, Adrian Utzon Dietz (guitar), Tobias Hjorth Pedersen (bass)
and Troels Hjorth Pedersen (drums), accompanied by their new vocalist David
Hernan (guitar/vocals), announce the release of IIII, their fourth studio
album, on Vendetta Records.
Ole Pedersen Luk (vocals/guitar, Afsky) still composed and recorded some
parts before his departure.
The first part of the album opens with Hvile, the longest composition,
which first reveals an intriguing yet soothing clean sound before letting
the majestic saturation accompany the haunting march into darkness. The
track retains its airy approach, gradually building in strength before
welcoming the startling howls and some grandiose orchestration, creating a
stark but incredibly well-managed contrast, whether at full speed or in the
slower, Doom-laden passages, such as the final that leads us into silence,
followed by the rawer Tσge. The sound remains anchored in heavy, lethargic
patterns that develop dissonance and ghostly harmonics before suddenly
bursting into flames on a virulent final blast that rushes us into Nσr
solen brydes û Del I: En undring vµkkes i mit sind, a short track that
gently introduces the quadrilogy. The fury explodes from the very first
moments of Nσr solen brydes û Del II: Mod afgrundens flammehav, a much more
violent second half that doesnÆt forget to let keyboards give it an epic
touch before slowing down, then adopting a much more contemplative
approach. Once weÆve caught our breath, the band attack again with a lively
rhythmic pattern complemented by some female backing vocals, then the sound
continues with Nσr solen brydes û Del III: For evigt û for altid û
forandret, letting the oppressive atmosphere revive under the storm. The
riffs are once again darker and more brooding, adding to the melancholy of
the plaintive cries complemented by the transcendent leads that carry us
through to Nσr Solen Brydes Del IIII: û En Ny Tid For Mig Stσr, the last
and slightly brighter part of the quadriptych, where the musicians come
together to create a more soothing atmosphere.
They then move on to ╞delrσd, the first track of the second part, which
gradually drowns in chaotic dissonance before the drums kick in, quickly
followed by the visceral vocal parts. The rhythmic pattern finally breaks
down to allow quietude to take a more prominent place, but it is in turn
disturbed by a few more surprising elements before darkening once again to
sink into madness and let the surges of energy carry us through to
Sjµleskrig and its unexpected influences. We find almost Jazz roots in the
first leads, strengthening the ataraxia before it is smothered by the cloud
of saturation that follows our progress to En Ild Som Tusind Sole, which
starts with its ominous notes, followed by the build-up of massive riffs.
Fury and lulls take turns to punctuate the composition with its intense
touches of despair, then Aske unveils its enchanting intro to create a
caesura before in turn surrendering to ferocity with a menacing, eerie
sound, populated by touches of DSBM. The track offers little respite before
giving way to Postludium, where Post-Black roots howl one last time in the
background of this ultimate instrumental composition, which perfectly
closes the album.
Although very long (over an hour and a half), Solbrud has turned IIII into
a veritable landscape of desolation, where the few touches of quietude are
constantly invaded by fury and darkness. If you give it a chance, the album
is bound to draw you into its intense, macabre universe.