By Monk
There can be no doubt that the Northern Ireland rock and metal scene has exploded into the post-Covid era with a sense of re-invigoration and declaring its intent to prove that it is one of the most relevant and vibrant anywhere in the Überverse, with both established acts and new kids on the block emerging from that enforced hibernation with a sense of unsatiated hunger that has resulted in one of the most exciting and productive periods in the region’s musical history.
Like so many of their contemporaries, Solothurn (who, trivia fiends, take their name from the home town of hard rock legends Krokus) collectively and individually are no strangers to the scene, having previously been involved in acts such as Involution, Electric Red, Annapurna and Toska, as well as Nick Oliveri’s on-off-on-again Mondo Generator project (in the form of guitarist and mixologist Simon ‘Spud’ Beggs). The result, as you might expect, is a taut and precise debut offering which delivers on every level, from the quality of the tunesmithery to that of the production and delivery.
Treading the sort of alt-metal meets grunge meets nu-wave stoner altruism territory previously inhabited by the likes of Alice in Chains, Deftones, Tool and Soundgarden, each of the three songs presented here has an energetic dynamism and sense of inherent, latent energy and passion. Opener ‘Sentience Fades’ heaves itself into your aural cortices with a massive crunching riff that boils, broils and bubbles into a brooding, densely winding behemoth of am earworm which no doubt will become a very quick pit-opener when the band venture into the live arena early next year.
‘War’, the shortest of the three tracks offered up, is punkier and thrashier, a neat counterpoint to the two longer tacks which sandwich it, while at the same time again allowing the band to flex their not inconsiderable, diverse musical muscles in a coherent and cohesive consistency. Closer ‘In Servitude’ is full of embroidered, subdued, subsumed anger, it’s delivery perfectly matching and rounding put this beautifully crafted and constructed EP. Opus number two is apparently already in pre-production… I for one will be keeping an eagle eye on my inbox for its delivery \m/
- ‘Servitude‘ is released on 17 November.
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