Sólstafir

Back in the day, Sólstafir made Viking/black metal in honour of their forefathers but over the years they expanded their horizon beyond the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Post metal with a generous helping of psychedelic rock might be one way to describe their songs, which suit the vast, desolate and windswept Icelandic landscape they call home. ‘Ótta’ (2014) is a true masterpiece and a shining example of what they themselves call ‘atmospheric Icelandic rock ‘n’ roll’. ‘Endless Twilight of Codependent Love’ (2020) incorporates influences from a mixture of styles and the aforementioned ‘Ótta’. Regardless of the musical hat they’re wearing, Sólstafir truly shine through their ability to conjure up pure emotion, a key asset for a band that sings in a language only a minority of its audience understands, all the while drawing on such a variety of styles that any attempt to pigeonhole their output is doomed to failure. Their last outing to date, Hin Helga Kvöll (‘The Holy Suffering’), marks a tentative return to their black metal roots, a move welcomed by early fans. (#GMM26)