SOLEFALD - IN HARMONIA UNIVERSALI
Century Media - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
After not being impressed at all by Pills Against the Ageless Ills, I have been absolutely blown away by what Solefald has created with In Harmonia Universalid. First, any attempt to describe the music as with other albums would be pointless and stupid with this release. The creative duo of Cornelius and Lazare have concocted an album that is confusing, engaging, addictive and to put it plainly just simply great!
With the roots in black metal but having nothing to do with black metal in the purest of terms, Solefald have evolved in the same way other bands like Sigh, Arcturus and Ulver have evolved, away from the rigidity that the genre sometimes demands. At various points in the album you will hear a saxophone, a grand piano, a Hammond organ and Spanish guitars. Lyrically the band employs the usage of four different languages (Norwegian, German, French and English) all sung by Cornelius and his very unique way of singing. At times belting out the harsh range but mostly singing in a whining, talkative type fashion Cornelius really manages to sound like nobody else out there. Oh yeah, there is also a song with the title "Buy My Sperm".
Of particular note is the song "Christiana (E Munch Commemoration)" and its breathtaking part that starts at 3:45 and it is dominated by various different type of keyboards, beautiful backing guitar melodies, a chanting choir and all tied up by Lazare's drumming. More great moments include the use of the Spanish guitar, the Hammond and saxophone in "Fraternité De La Grande Lumière" and the mixture of both aggressiveness and quirkiness in "Epictetus & Irreversibility".
With so much going on throughout In Harmonia Universali it can be easily to feel overwhelmed but this is a journey worth taking because of the greatness that is to be found. In Harmonia Universali is simply mind-blowing.
Century Media Website
Solefald Official Website
Century Media - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
After not being impressed at all by Pills Against the Ageless Ills, I have been absolutely blown away by what Solefald has created with In Harmonia Universalid. First, any attempt to describe the music as with other albums would be pointless and stupid with this release. The creative duo of Cornelius and Lazare have concocted an album that is confusing, engaging, addictive and to put it plainly just simply great!
With the roots in black metal but having nothing to do with black metal in the purest of terms, Solefald have evolved in the same way other bands like Sigh, Arcturus and Ulver have evolved, away from the rigidity that the genre sometimes demands. At various points in the album you will hear a saxophone, a grand piano, a Hammond organ and Spanish guitars. Lyrically the band employs the usage of four different languages (Norwegian, German, French and English) all sung by Cornelius and his very unique way of singing. At times belting out the harsh range but mostly singing in a whining, talkative type fashion Cornelius really manages to sound like nobody else out there. Oh yeah, there is also a song with the title "Buy My Sperm".
Of particular note is the song "Christiana (E Munch Commemoration)" and its breathtaking part that starts at 3:45 and it is dominated by various different type of keyboards, beautiful backing guitar melodies, a chanting choir and all tied up by Lazare's drumming. More great moments include the use of the Spanish guitar, the Hammond and saxophone in "Fraternité De La Grande Lumière" and the mixture of both aggressiveness and quirkiness in "Epictetus & Irreversibility".
With so much going on throughout In Harmonia Universali it can be easily to feel overwhelmed but this is a journey worth taking because of the greatness that is to be found. In Harmonia Universali is simply mind-blowing.
Century Media Website
Solefald Official Website
