Solefald

 Today in 2010 Solefald released the album Norrøn livskunst

Oslo,Norway Post-Black Metal/Avant-garde

Status:Active

Years active 1995-present

Solefald has often been categorized as "avant-garde black metal", and to these ears that's a fine description of this adventurous Norwegian duo, with the possible exception being they are gradually moving away from "real" black metal. With each successive album they reach just a bit further, branching out just a bit more, such that one album doesn't sound a lot like the next yet they all sound uniquely like Solefald. Though both guys are credited with vocals, it's Lars Nedland's clean, strong voice that truly stands out, so much so that other bands featuring him (Age Of Silence is a good example) invariably end up described as "sounds like Solefald". Most recently they released the two-CD epic An Icelandic Odyssey, and true to form they continue to forge a diverse sound uniquely their own. To these ears, the best album is 2001's Pills Agains The Ageless Ills, but there's no dud in the bunch. Kudos to these guys for expanding the boundaries of extreme music.

Indie Recorings

Cornelius Jakhelln Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Lyrics

Lazare Vocals, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion

Guest/Session

King Wah Howls (track 4)

Agnete Kjølsrud Vocals (female) (tracks 3, 7)

Benedicte Maurseth Vocals (female) (tracks 1, 2, 10), Hardanger fiddle (track 1)

Kjetil Selvik Saxophone (tracks 4, 5, 7)

Vangelis Labrakis Guitars (lead) (track 6)

1. Song til stormen 04:56

2. Norrøn livskunst 04:16

3. Tittentattenteksti 04:14

4. Blackabilly / Stridsljod 05:49

5. Eukalyptustreet 09:24

6. Raudedauden 03:11

7. Vitets vidd i verdi 05:35

8. Hugferdi 05:53

9. Waves over Valhalla (An Icelandic Odyssey Part III) 06:28

10. Til heimen yver havet 04:15

54:01

The poem "Song til stormen" is from "Glør i oska" (1946)

Cover art for "Norrøn Livskunst" by Trine + Kim Design Studio

King is credited for "wah howls" on track 4 courtesy of Chilihead/Egghead Prodz. King is a character that performs in the band Chilihead in Cornelius Jakhelln's novel Voguesville. The song "Stridsljod / Blackabilly" is dedicated to King.

Indie Recordings' pressing has several typos, mostly being misplaced spaces "e.g. "Norrø n Livskungst" and "SOLEFAL D"

Recording information:

Vox Cornelii, guitars & bass recorded at Oslo Lydstudio.

Vox Lazari recorded at Dub Studio.

Drums recorded and produced at Toproom Studio.

Keys and effects recorded at Mezzanine Studio.