Solstafir - Masterpiece Of Bitterness

*=Staff's pick	I Myself The Visionary Head Nature Strutter* Bloodsoaked Velvet Ghosts Of Light Ljosfari* Ritual Of Fire Nattfari

Genre	Experimental Metal	Adalbjorn Tryggvason	Vocals
Tracks	7	Adalbjorn Tryggvason	Guitar
Runningtime	70 Min.	Saebor M. Saeborson	Guitar
Label	Spikefarm Records	Svavar Austman	Bass
Release	30 Dec. 2005	Gudmundur Palmason	Drums
Country	Iceland	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

Solstafir from Iceland must go through the very purgatory each time they are to compose a new song. I hope for their own sake that they don't suffer as much as their music sounds like. Let us come back to these facts later, first let me mention that Solstafir have been active since the mid-nineties. Since 1995 they have released several demos, participated on V/A´s and done some mcd´s. It wasn't until the end of 2005 that the debut Masterpiece Of Bitternes was brought to light by the finnish label Spikefarm.

The name on this full-length couldn't be more suitable. Solstafir don't stand for mainstream or easy listening music. It's very complex, special and introvert music. The vocals from Adalbjorn Tryggvason could be placed in any group or band, and the result would be depressing, and that is a compliment. Just as the music, the vocals are filled with angst and serious wanderings. The slow and heavy riffing go on like a dumper while the faster parts really crush the leftovers. I cant put this music in a special genre, its impossible and perhaps it wouldn't be fair to the band as they obvious have their very own identity. How to explain Masterpiece Of Bitterness then? Well, influences seem to be from various genres and sources. Sometimes they present traditionally grind and blast parts, but I wouldn't say that it's for this Solstafir is so special. The strength lies in all these atmospheric slower parts with good arrangements onespecially the bass. Sometimes with a touch of doom and hard rock of the seventies. Suddenly it strikes me that the best description maybe is this one: Think of Smashing Pumpkins playing Neurosis covers their own style...

Sometimes this album is brilliant, sometimes it aint. Another thing is the album length, its far too long. Seventy minutes is very much time to fill on a CD and with several songs over eight minutes, where the longest one lasts for nearly twenty(!I0, it is too much. t takes something really special to keep up the interest for so long time. The production is nearly ok. The composing are at it best times superb but sometimes only average. Still it's a very special and diverse album. Good to have if you are fed up with ordinary and traditional metal.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
5	6	6

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Tim