Album Review: Sólstafir – Hin Helga Kvöl

Before I start this review, it is worth mentioning that I am a big fan of Sólstafir and have been for quite a few years now. As well as their atmospheric post-rock sound, I love the mystery of not really knowing what they are singing about as the lyrics are largely in their native Icelandic. I enjoy using the music and the vocal delivery to let the songs tell their story. Occasionally I will turn to an online translation service to try and get a gist of what a song is about, but honestly I prefer to just let my imagination run wild as it makes the music a whole lot more magical for me. Their music evokes the landscape of their homeland – filled with beauty but also with harsh and unyielding elements. 

We got our first taste of the new music in June when the band released title track “Hin helga kvöl” (The Holy Suffering), alongside a video featuring the band performing in a graveyard. The track showcases the heavier side to the band’s repertoire, whilst incorporating some deliciously chuggy riffs, and Aðalbjörn Tryggvason trademark vocals. In early August we were treated to a second single from the up-coming album – “Hún andar” – which for me could have sat quite comfortably on the band’s 2017 album Berdreyminn, with its more cinematic soundscape musical style. The third track released from the new album – “Blakkrakki” – was unleashed on 25 September alongside another great video which features the band performing on the back of a moving truck through the (presumably) Icelandic countryside. The chorus of this track is particularly catchy.

For me, Hin helga kvöl sits nicely between the band’s black metal roots and their more anthemic rock sound. It is unmistakably Sólstafir, and the album has a good variety of tracks – from heavier and more up-beat tracks like “Hin helga kvöl”, to much slower and more melancholic tracks such as “Sálumessa”. The stripped-back nature of the start of “Freygátan” evokes the icy landscape of Iceland, before kicking into a more rock n roll sound. “Nú mun ljósið deyja” has a sound more reminiscent of their earlier Svartir Sandar album and is a track that sounds particularly dark and full of anguish, but for me one of the more surprising elements of the album is the closing track “Kuml” with its gorgeous but slightly haunting saxophone melody and deep monasterial vocals.

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I have seen Sólstafir perform in a variety of different venues across the UK and Europe, but the most special of them all for me was when they played at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch in 2017 in front of just 150 people. When performing live the band put just as much passion into their performance as can be heard on any of their albums. It is raw, passionate,  and it is clear that they really mean every note and every word. To experience Sólstafir fully I strongly recommend that you try to catch them on their upcoming “Nordic Descent” tour which sees them play 5 dates in the UK and Ireland:

  • 20.11.24 – Concorde 2, Brighton
  • 21.11.24 – Club Academy, Manchester
  • 22.11.24 – Opium, Dublin
  • 23.11.24 – Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow
  • 24.11.24 – Islington Academy, London (previously Electric Brixton)

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Hin helga kvöl is released on 8 November via Century Records. Pre-order from multiple sites in multiple formats here.

Check out all the bands we review in 2024 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!

Sólstafir: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify

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