For
those who like metal with a twist of other styles of music wouldn’t do
wrong if they granted Norwegian duo Solefald a listen. Despite
a past as black metal outfit, the two Norwegians Lazare Nedland and
Cornelius Jakhelin have created something that only remotely belongs to
said genre. A song like “White Frost Queen” would seem too beautiful
with its female vocals and violin to have been created by grim black
metallers, whereas e.g. “Survival of the Outlaw” and “There is
Need” show more metal edge. Funnily enough, the latter is one of the
least interesting tunes on the CD. That
said, Solefald have managed to blend in the use of violin, cello and
saxophone (!) very well and these instruments all have a suitable
presence in the soundscape. On
the whole, guest vocalist Aggir Frost Peterson fits in nicely, but I
can’t help feeling that his voice is oddly strained at times, and that
to the point where it gets a bit annoying (particularly during “Sea I
Called”). But
all in all, “Red for Fire” is a very good album and it is
recommendable for fans of Arcturus and other avant-garde bands. Recommended: “Sun I Call”, Survival of the Outlaw” & “White Frost Queen”. |
