(Below you’ll find Daniel Barkasi‘s review of a new album by the Danish band Solbrud, which is out now on Vendetta Records.)
Black metal has been brimming with flavors and textures to please even the stingiest of palates. Denmark’s Solbrud contains a venerable cornucopia of variety – from the morose, to the hypnotic, to the unrelenting, and many variations thereof. They also never make the same record twice. With their latest IIII, they’ve ventured into creative choices that are bold and alluring. It can be said that there are four slices to this loaded-up pie.
The meaning of the album’s title is an exercise in numbers. There are four members in the band, and the album is split into four distinct parts (or vinyl sides, specifically), each representing four classical elements – earth, water, air, and fire. Here’s the twist: each band member was responsible for writing the entirety of their own quarter of the album alone, with no input from anyone but themselves. When time came for recording, they laid down everything as a full band.
This whole approach is new to me, and if something similar has happened that we’re missing, please inform me in the comments, as it must be remedied. An important note to also consider is that vocalist/guitarist Ole Pedersen Luk departed the band in 2021 to focus on Afsky (one of the best depressive black metal bands around), but still wrote his piece of the album, and was part of the recording of IIII in full. New vocalist/guitarist David Hernan did not partake in the creation or recording of this album.
Considering the compositional nature of IIII, we’re going to break down each fourth of the album separately. But first, an overall glance of this massive undertaking, as its scope does lend itself to the whole.
IIII is a long one, registering at about 94 minutes. Yup, it’s a marathon, folks. No, that isn’t a typo. True to the concept, this album is the most creatively challenging work of Solbrud’s career, with it being plainly obvious that the band took meticulous care in every aspect of this album. It took a while to come together, too, but the struggle ultimately was rewarded in a dynamic, fresh, and introspective monolith of atmospheric black metal for which it’s hard to find an adequate comparison.
The first part is based on the element of Air, and was written by drummer Troels Pedersen. Fittingly, opener “Hvile” is a mammoth at a hair under 18 minutes. A swath of moody clean guitars overlap waves of brooding, windy overtones to kick off this opus. An urgency is emphasized as the pace dials up, before Luk’s anguished shrieks enter to provide a bit of sandpaper.
The fact that IIII is an enveloping experience in patience sets in quickly, and the aspiration is just as crystal clear. This isn’t a “regular” atmospheric black metal composition, and my oh my, does this track hammer home that point. Though lengthy, getting lost within its charms isn’t difficult – washing over and over in moments of beauty and rawness. The second and final song of this chapter is the more direct “Tåge”; its array of cutting, memorable guitar and drum patterns push the song from largely mid-paced tones to an aggressive finish.
Part two is focused on the element of Water, penned by bassist Tobias Pedersen. This is broken down within four pieces prefaced by the title “Når solen brydes • Del I – IIII,” with the first and last bits being relatively short minimalistic instrumentals. “Mod afgrundens flammehav” rumbles with samples of a thunderstorm paired with blistering tempos, though never losing the overarchingly foggy aura. An ethereal bridge in the middle of the song soothes, highlighted by acoustic strums over calming waves and seagulls’ croons. Electrified rhythms soon enter once more, not wasting any time before waves of nimble black metal dominate fully. The ethereal and at times a tad folky “For evigt – for altid – forandret” is equally enthralling, continuing the vibes of the preceding entry, before being neatly wrapped up via a hair-raising outro.
Guitarist Adrian Utzon Dietz is responsible for the third portion, revolving around the Earth element. Unsurprisingly, some of the best guitar-driven moments are housed within Dietz’s effort. Mesmerizing leads and icy riffage stand out on “Ædelråd” which also boasts multiple layers of mood-driving acoustics, both when isolated and when mixed with the forceful heavier moments. No doubt one of the songs that impacts hardest for this scribe. Also the most divergent piece on IIII is without a doubt “Sjæleskrig”; a slice of psychedelic doom that crawls its way into your cranium with a blues-inspired tonality. A soulful respite that’s as stirring as it is distinct.
Finally, we have former vocalist/guitarist Ole Pedersen Luk’s writing contribution, centered around Fire. His writing absolutely leans to the downtrodden and heart-wrenching, with his colossal work in now main project Afsky deeming that with little surprise. His is a lesson in contrast. “En ild som tusind sole” blazes with fury while also knowing when to change the tempo and reign proceedings back in, thereby maximizing the emotional impact. If scorching (pun intended) blackened tremolos and buzzsaw riffage is your flavor, “Aske” will easily please. This guy simply knows how to allure one into the bleakest, most sorrowful void.
For those of you who made it, which we hope is most, Solbrud have assembled an album that’s complex and will challenge through much of the previously mentioned gargantuan run time. While there are multiple new influences scattered throughout, the album’s four parts reflect much on the individual members, but also cohesively is absolutely a Solbrud record. If black metal with gobs of atmosphere is your pleasure, a damn good time will be had with IIII.
If the scale of this release intimidates, you’ll receive no judgment here. However, giving this album a go is highly encouraged, with the rewards plain to hear. A band of this level of proficiency that ambitiously puts its neck out in this fashion is certainly nothing to sniff at, and there’s bound to be plenty that will resonate with even the most discerning.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Solbrud
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solbrud_official/
Bandcamp: https://solbrud.bandcamp.com/album/iiii