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| Cover art by Adam Burke. |
Sólstafir is one of those bands that grows on you, especially when you look past their earlier material and realize how much they have changed since their inception. They may have started as a black metal band, but, over time, they have moved towards a more accessible post-metal sound, with softer rock influences. However, there is a deep, emotional well behind the music and the lyrics, and the atmosphere Sólstafir creates is one of the most immersive a listener can get into. After all, what better way to explore the various facets of your musical experimentation than by building on what has already been done?
In the beginning, Berdreyminn (Icelandic for “dreamer”) sounds like the sonic landscape their previous release, Ótta, had created. It’s soft, almost like a lullaby, and it’s filled with a presence that you can feel. The softer rock influences take center stage on the album, complementing the vocals, almost lifting them. It creates a sense of calm that stays with you throughout the album, even as it ends and begins again. Although the metal is there – in the emotional vocals that seem to reverb throughout the album – the most prominent aspect of the album are the instruments. If there one thing Sólstafir can do well, it’s layering their music to where it’s most effective.
Everything about Berdryminn is polished and emotional; there are no notes out of place, nothing unexpected that the listener has to worry about. Given that the musicality and the instrumentation of Berdreyminn is excellent, it should come as no surprise that the vocals have taken a backseat. The music has created this atmosphere that you don’t want to come out of, and the vocals, with their almost hypnotic timbre and quality, reinforces this comfort. Berdreyminn could have been a second Ótta, with its instrumental quality and vocals, but it’s not Ótta – it’s a different sound altogether, and one that stays with you long after it’s over.
Despite the brilliance of the music and vocals, the quality of its sound, and the dream-like nature of the atmosphere, Berdreyminn does have the unfortunate chance of becoming stale rather quickly if one is not paying attention. There aren’t many things that makes this album interesting the first time around; to catch the subtleties, you need to listen to the album numerous times. It’s simple to gloss over Berdreyminn, especially when the pacing is odd and the atmosphere stays the same throughout the album. However, Berdreyminn does have the saving grace of having different parts a listener can focus on during each spin or listen.
All in all, Berdreyminn is a fantastic transition from their old material. I am excited to hear where the band goes with their new sound and I hope that, wherever they go, they continue to make stellar music.
