ALBUM REVIEW: SOLSTAFIR - BERDREYMINN

SOLSTAFIR
BERDREYMINN
Post Rock, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock.
Seasons of Mist.
Listening Format: CD & Digital.














Solstafir are an Icelandic Rock band who have been active for over 20 years but only put out their first full length in 2002. Originally conceived as a Black Metal band, Solstafir have always created very atmospheric and melancholic music. Over the course of six full length albums, their music has really changed up a lot and continued to evolve to the point where they can barely be labelled a Metal band these days. 'Berdreyminn' is their sixth full length release and it's not an easy album to pigeonhole (which I like), with elements of Post Rock, Hard Rock and Prog.

The album opens with a kind of Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western inspired intro before (and I kid you not) launching into a main riff that sounds like classic Muse (honestly it really does)! Once this track gets going though, it becomes really interesting with a triumphant feel, stomping drums and these soaring yelling vocals. Second track 'Isafold' has this unashamed 70s Rock stomp that sounds like classic ZZ Top. This thing even has what sounds like a slap bass interlude and cheesy guitar licks. I have to say I'm loving this track, although the vocals are mixed a little too high and sometimes when Tyrggvason goes slightly off pitch it is a bit unpleasant on the ears. The album takes an even stronger leap forward with a song that has a completely different tone. 'Hula' is Solstafir coming out in their true form. It sounds dark, mysterious, brooding and epic as you would probably expect. There are some absolutely beautiful touches of strings and female backing vocals on this track, and the clean lead vocals are far more muted and lowered in the mix compared to the yelling vocals on the first two tracks. This is easily the strongest track on the album that could be described as a Post Rock or atmospheric Rock song, for lack of a better term.

As the album starts to venture into its second half things keep changing up from there. In fact 'Naros' has a very dynamic change just within the same song. It begins as slow and ghostly as 'Hula' before it, but around the half way mark suddenly bursts into a colourful array of Punky power chord lead guitars and brilliant sounding yelling vocals. Although I can't understand the lyrics (presumably in Icelandic), I can still hear so much passion in the vocals, so whatever he is shouting about, I can tell he really means it. Another strong album highlight, but mostly just the second half of this track.

As the album continues its journey, it seems to keep switching back and forth between simplistic and energetic Hard Rock, and melancholic and very dramatic songs. 'Dyrafjordur' near the end of the album piles on the strings and hammering piano arpeggios to create a song that could easily soundtrack a main character's last dying breath at the climax of a hard hitting drama. If you compare this track to the ZZ Top stomp of 'Isafold' earlier in the album, it is hard to believe these two songs can possibly coexist on the same record! I guess this is the album's biggest strength and biggest weakness at the same time. 'Berdreyminn' is a vastly eclectic album with a wide musical pallet. Sometimes it sounds simplistic and catchy as hell, sometimes it sounds very complex, layered and serious. Rarely is the album boring because Solstafir pull off all their ambitions well, with solid, heartfelt performances, and detailed, nostalgic production. But tonally this record is all over the place. I think if you do pretend it is a soundtrack, then it makes more sense. Soundtracks are allowed to be all over the place. Listening all the way through there are mostly very bold and engaging moments all over this record. But there are also some irksome parts too, whether it is a guitar lead or yelped vocal sounding a bit too cheesy and over the top, or a change in the album's mood and pacing being too drastic a shift. As a whole though, I'm really enjoying this record. It is certainly a unique and thoroughly engaging experience, and it doesn't really sound like anything else I've heard this year, which is very refreshing indeed. 7/10.

EP REVIEW: DEATH GRIPS - STEROIDS (CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN GABBER MEGAMIX)

DEATH GRIPS
STEROIDS (CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN GABBER MEGAMIX)
Experimental Hip Hop, Electronic, Digital Hardcore.
Self-Released.
Listening Format: Digital







For a band that came very close to splitting up a couple of years ago, it is fascinating that Death Grips' output since that point has been arguably even better than their earlier material (which is also a fine selection). The Sacramento experimental trio have delivered some kind of release each year, despite a tension in the air, as if the wheels could fly off at any minute and this band could crash and explode before our very eyes. So their frequent output is surely a good thing. Last year's full length album 'Bottomless Pit' is arguably their best album to date. As wild and mad as anything they have done previously, but it saw the trio pushing further forward in terms of structure, songwriting, performance and production. The addition of roaring guitars and blastbeat drums gave them even more ammunition and intensity to work with.

'Steroids' is a 22 minute long EP (or mixtape perhaps) that has dropped out of the blue and is free to listen to on digital platforms. Although the 22 minute "megamix" flows continuously with no breaks, it does sound like it is multiple tracks stitched together into one sphere. The title crudely references Gabber music, which by definition is Techno music played at speeds exceeding 200bpm. In terms of production and craft, Death Grips have kind of gone back to the roots of their early works like 'Ex Military' and 'No Love Deep Web' to deliver something much more crass, and messy. Suitably so, as 'Steroids' does not let up for one moment. It is full of blaring, pounding, relentlessly fast beats and drums assembled by Flatlander and Zach Hill, that just pulverise the listener from the very first second. MC Ride roars and bellows a load of F-bombs right off the bat. Death Grips don't know the meaning of the word subtlety and that is the way we like it.

In terms of production, 'Steroids' is extremely busy. Almost comically so. There are so many fractured rhythms, loud and abrasive samples and sound effects whiz by with very little rhyme or reason. Everything here is assembled to be ADHD levels of disorientating, maddening and ear rupturing, which stays true to actual Gabber music. But it strangely sounds absolutely glorious because of this, and that is because of the performance the band deliver here. Death Grips sound so gloriously urgent and passionate throughout, creating an absolute racket and just attacking the senses of the listener with no holds barred. The trio deliver some of their most playful, unrestrained and free-form material yet. Even though it sounds as mad as a badger, Death Grips are sounding at their most radical and expressive throughout this utter madness.

I am so glad that this EP only lasts 22 minutes, because my brain literally could not take an entire album's worth of this insanity. It is the audio equivalent of going to a blaring 4am drug adled techno rave in a warehouse in the middle of an industrial estate... With a sub-machine gun! Death Grips sound like an inflamed meteor that is ready to destroy anything and everything in its path. The trio continue to surprise, excite and ruin the minds of even the most dedicated of their fanbase. It feels like this band can do just about anything right now and it will sound fresh, exciting and mindblowing. 8/10.