Solstafir - I Blodi Og Anda

Here is an incredible release from these true Icelandic Vikings. Before I Blodi Og Anda, I had the pleasure of hearing an earlier mCD entitled Til Valhallar. It accompanied me on a trip to Yellowstone, and the fast punk-ish melodic black metal, coupled with the atmosphere of being in some of the most gorgeous scenery in the country created quite the unforgettable experience.

On this release, the music is more melodic and on a grander scale. It invokes epic scenes of fjords, lakes, glaciers, mountains, anything but the old and tired forest imagery usually found in black metal. We hear occasional interludes of acoustic guitar, and *gasp* female vocals! The upbeat punk spirit remains, albeit a bit held back this time, but overall this creates a more polished cohesive release. The variety on the album is incredible. "Tormentor" stands out as a fast, unrelenting track of crazy frantic blast beats and contains a cool guitar solo near the end. On the other hand "Arstidir Daudans" is a melodic, epic piece that starts with a beautiful acoustic intro under which female vocals, courtesy of Hulda "Dula," emerge.

I don't think I've heard anyone quite like Solstafir in style. They put former Icelandic musician Falkenbach to shame. Despite my dislike of most fast black metal, Solstafir stands out to show us that not all fast black metal has to be cold and grim. They are certainly a band to look into if you are willing to try something different.