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Release

Icelandic rock band SÓLSTAFIR’s ‘Berdreyminn’ is almost here

Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 2:57 PM (PST)

There are some records I have been waiting for a long time, such as Blackguard’s troubled Storm. Others that are in progress but aren’t near to being done such as the next Wax Idols, for example. Then there are bands like Icelandic rock band SÓLSTAFIR who I don’t follow super closely but am certainly a true fan of. Everything they have done has been stellar and moving stuff, like a kind of Sigur Rós with black metal roots.

I met a film director the other day rocking one of their t shirts and we had a spirited discussion about how great they are. This made me also recall that they had sorted some inner band issues and have a new record almost upon us. In fact, it is called Berdreyminn and is due this May 26th! This one seems to also explore some more of their hard rock influences, but in very non conformist ways.

The album, produced by Birgir Birgirsson (SIGUR RÓS, ALCEST) and Jaime Gomez-Arellano (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, ULVER), is lauded as “a compelling journey that offers ’80’s-style synths, chuggy rock riffing, Pink Floyd-y prog overtones, sweeping Fields of the Nephilim guitars, haunting orchestral arrangements and occasional metallic crunch” (Decibel Magazine) and is available across multiple formats at the Season of Mist E-Shop.

SÓLSTAFIR recently unveiled all of the stunning new music from Berdreyminn. The album stream appears alongside an interview with vocalist Aðalbjörn Tryggvason at Noisey. Dive into another special experience from this smart and original group pushing the boundaries of our scene now.

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General News

We will not do what they want or do what they say: Don’t Back Down Now!

Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 5:21 PM (PST)

I’m not just saying this to promote MY records or anyone’s really specifically, but here is a thought on art in general. Music can bring people together of many cultures. It is very hard for artists to have a sustainable career when no one purchases their art, even if they work hard. You can only get so far without support. Now, Ariana Grande or Eagles Of Death Metal have lots of fans, BUT…if fear and terror starts also cutting in to concert attendance and (unlikely, but) somehow dented it enough, that is a direct assault on culture exchange. The arts struggle enough. The whole idea of a starving artist being more valid is masochistic and puts artists at a huge disadvantage when many of them already have a lot on their plate already as sensitive or tuned in souls.

A great refutation of ideology you don’t like, be it violence or even a political movement or corporation you are against, is to vote with your dollars. Buy organic food, etc. Do what you can. I would hope the deaths of the music fans of Ariana Grande in Manchester , some with their whole lives ahead of them now stolen, might move some of you to go out and purchase a work of art, a shirt, a book, a movie, a record or something to help further the arts and to ESPECIALLY keep music, loud unabashedly alive music of any genre (except NSBM, duh), blasting in the faces of those who see it as a threat to divisions or who don’t want sexual, racial or social mores or gender roles to evolve. One love. PMA. Our hearts at Metal Riot go out to Ariana and her fans. What a sick, sad fucking senseless thing.

Here are a few recommendations of artists of different genres, races, genders and spiritual backgrounds we suggest you support and show that humanity will NOT be thrown backwards, be it by xenophobic Trumpster Divers (supporting only Arab nations you make money off of doesn’t count, Conald Chump/Trump), radical terror groups like Isis or whoever the fuck tries to front on unity and love:

Lizzo: https://twitter.com/lizzo

Tommy Genesis world wide: https://twitter.com/brasil_tommy

Solstafir: https://twitter.com/solstafiroffcal

Lara Hope and The Arktones: https://www.larahopeandtheark-tones.com/

Downtown Boys: https://twitter.com/DowntownBoys

Flatfoot 56: https://www.flatfoot56.com/ 

VOWWS: https://twitter.com/vowwsband 

I am so sick of reading headlines like this. We as a race, THE HUMAN RACE, have to do better than this. A music concert is supposed to be a place where people gather to forget their problems for a few hours, not somewhere to roll the dice with your life. At times like this, I think the only thing a normal person can do is try to be the best, most moral, human they can be- in our jaded era, I believe this is more necessary than ever. For instance, this evening after I read this headline, I ran into a very loose acquaintance at the grocery store & mentioned the news. This person joked "Maybe they did it because it was an Ariana Grande show." I was too shocked to even say anything- I utterly fail to find the humor in the fact that at least 19 people are dead & many more injured, whatever you may think of someone's music. I know nothing about Ariana Grande or any of her songs, but I can guarantee that people of many different races, religions, & beliefs were at that show for the same reason- to have a good time. Some of them won't go home tonight. This is not fucking funny to me. This sort of jaded, joking, mentality is evidence to me of the continual chipping away of our humanity by the pathetically low standards of our era. We are better than this, people. It's dehumanizing, just like the freakish & twisted beliefs that allowed this asshole terrorist to kill a bunch of people they didn't know. Everything you do & say has consequences, even if you don't believe that. Make sure you do your best to think & speak with a moral heart- maybe your kindness will prevent someone from going down a dark path- you never know who you may effect positively. My thoughts & prayers are with y'all in the U.K. tonight.

A post shared by D. Randall Blythe (@drandallblythe) on

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Music

Sólstafir stream new track, “Bláfjall”

Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10:16 AM (PST)

Outlandish and mysterious Icelandic rock band SÓLSTAFIR are streaming the second new track off their new album Berdreyminn. The  album closer titled “Bláfjall” is streaming now both at the indie music outlet Brooklyn Vegan and metal site Invisible Oranges. 

It seems the Guðmundur Óli Pálmason situation, though certainly stressful for all parties, did not stop the remaining members from creating new, strong art. This latest song is more driving than recent material with am interesting, proggy/classic rock bent. The vocals seem more pained. I can’t stop listening to it, frankly. Very cool.

Regarding the new track, SÓLSTAFIR vocalist/guitarist Aðalbjörn Tryggvason comments on the personal meaning behind the track and its intent: “The meaning of ‘Bláfjall’ is blue – as in a black, black mountain, and it revolves around man’s battle against his own mind and those inner demons that often lead to self-destruction and harming one’s loved ones. I have myself struggled with alcoholism and it remains a never-ending battle and continuously walking further up a mountain in foggy darkness. But this is also about hope, because there is a way out, but you have to grab that rope when it comes swinging towards you and hold on to it as tight as you can. Everybody can end up lost on the black mountain, or ‘Bláfjall’ in this case.“

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More On: Folk Metal, Music, Solstafir, Season of Mist
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Music

SOLSTAFIR premiere new video for “Miðaftann” with NPR

Posted by Metal Riot on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 1:09 PM (PST)

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Enigmatic Icelandic rock band SOLSTAFIR have seen the release of a new video for the track “Miðaftann”. The video, directed by Harri Haataja and Vesa Ranta, is streaming now at NPR.

Regarding the video, SOLSTAFIR guitarist/frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason comments, “The track is about wandering in darkness. Playing chess with Death, getting burned by salt, drowning in the ultimate wave of sin and returning back home by using moonlight as navigation.”

Video directors Harri Haataja and Vesa Ranta comment, “They told us a real-life story about a sailor who lost his crew at sea and was stranded to shore as the only survivor,” the directors write. “He proceeded to find his way to town and [along the way] he found a barrel filled with water. But the water was frozen, so he had to punch through the ice with his bare hands to fight the dehydration. Eventually, after a long journey, he found his way to town and survived.”

“Miðaftann” is taken from SOLSTAFIR’s critically acclaimed new album , ‘Otta’. The album, which has made Decibel Magazine’s top 40 albums of 2014, is streaming here, and is available now at the Season of Mist E-shop.

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Tour

Roadburn to host doom poets SubRosa, now offer 2x the Sólstafir Viking action

Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 6:53 AM (PST)

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SubRosa, Kayo Dot, Lord Mantis, KEN mode, Botanist, and Lazer/Wulf have also been confirmed for the 20th edition of Roadburn Festival 

Iceland natives Sólstafir will perform their unique take of a completely instrumental film score, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the cult-classic Viking movie, Hrafninn Flýgur (When The Raven Flies) by director Hrafn Gunnlaugsson at Roadburn Festival 2015 on Thursday, April 9 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.Premiered at Reykjavik’s International Film Festival last week, this will be the first time that Sólstafir will play their live score, in real time while screening Hrafninn Flýgur from start to finish, outside of Iceland, offering our beloved attendees the chance to experience Gunnlaugsson’s epic tale in an entire new dimension on the main stage.

The 20th edition of Roadburn is going to be a treat for those who love soundtracks, as in addition to Sólstafir performing an instrumental soundtrack to Hrafninn Flýgur, Claudio Simonetti‘s Goblin will perform their much acclaimed movie scores for Dawn Of The Dead and Suspiria at the 2015 festival.

On, Friday, April 11, Sólstafir will be part of Houses of the Holistic, Ivar Bjørnson‘s (Enslaved) and Wardruna‘s Einar “Kvitrafn” Selvik‘s curated Roadburn event.

We are also very excited to announce that acclaimed American doom quintet SubRosa will make its Roadburn debut at the 20th edition of the festival on Thursday, April 9, 2015. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, SubRosa quickly made a name for itself in the wake of 2011’s No Help For The Mighty Ones and 2013’s universally praised More Constant Than The Gods, thanks to the band’s spellbinding blend of pulverizing doom, gothic atmosphere, and touches of Americana.

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Video

Music Video: Solstafir “Fjara”

Posted by Fireball13 on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:02 AM (PST)

Icelandic black metal band Solstafir have premiered their new music video for their song “Fjara.” The song is taken from the band’s new double album “Svartir Sandar” which was released in October 2011 via Season of Mist.

A woman’s final journey is the focus of this seven plus minute clip in which Iceland’s beautiful landscape provides the backdrop. The video features Icelandic singer/actress Rebekka Kolbeinsdottir and was captured by director Bowen Staines (Minus, Rokkurro) and co-director Gunnar “Gussi” Guobjornsson (Sleepless in Reykjavik).

Click here to see the new video.

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Music

Season of Mist Mega-Post: New music from Solstafir, Tsjuder, and Arckanum

Posted by jessepac on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 11:13 AM (PST)

Every once in awhile on Metal Riot, we want to take the time to give you a lot of information on not just the bands that make metal so great, but the labels as well. Today, we have four bands from the Season of Mist label that all have some excellent stuff for you to check out, including some new music from Solstafir, Tsjuder, and Arckanum, as well as album art for all three and Esoteric.

First off, here is the newest track from Tsjuder entitled “The Daemon Throne” from the upcoming album Legion Helvete. Next up is “Fjara” by Solstafir and finally we have “Svartr ok Þursligr” by Arckanum.

Check out the photo gallery below for album art from all four bands!

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Release

Solstafir releasing new album “Svartir Sandar”

Posted by Michelle on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 9:24 PM (PST)

Iclandic black metal band Solstafir are releasing “Svartir Sandar” through Season of Mist in October.  

“Svartir Sandar” which is translated to “Black Sands” in english, is set for a European release on October 14 and an American release on October 18.

The album is the ninth release from the band and their third full length album.

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Release

Solstafir releasing upcoming album, sign to Season Of Mist

Posted by Fireball13 on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 5:24 PM (PST)

Icelandic Viking black metal act Solstafir have announced an autumn 2011 release for their upcoming as-yet-untitled album. The band has recently been signed to Season Of Mist. “Solstafir” is the Icelandic word for “radiating sunbeams.”

They are the first Icelandic band to join the label’s roster. Frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason comments: “On behalf of SOLSTAFIR, I can honestly say that we are delighted to have signed to Season of Mist, and we have full faith in that they will work with us in taking the band to a new level. Our new album will for sure make some jaw dropping and surprise many, and we feel that we have found the right home to spread the light of SOLSTAFIR all over the planet for years to come!”

The band’s last full-length album, “Kold,” was released in 2009 via Spikefarm Records.

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