Solstice
Lamentations (CD) 1994-2001 Candlelight
This version of 'Lamentations' is Candlelight's 2001 reissue of defunct UK doomsters Solstices' classic debut album, recorded in 1994. This edition has an additional three bonus tracks. Any lover of classic epic doom or old-school metal will want to add this to their collection. The album begins with 'Lamentations IV', which sets the proper mood with clerical voices singing a lament of doom. 'Neither Time nor Tide' sets the tone for the rest of the album, which really reminds me of nothing so much as Mourn with male vocals. The composition is epic, the vocals by Simon Matravers are clean and strong, and the guitar solo's are fantastic! Even the chunky distortion on the guitars is reminiscent of Mourn. The following songs continue in the same vein; long with the occasional middle-eastern flavor, combining mournful lyrics and tandem guitars, one played by future Cradle of Filth member John Piras. One of the extra tracks, 'Empty Lies the Oaken Throne', provides a welcome break with paired guitars strumming a beautiful, classically inspired tune. The recording quality throughout is clear and well balanced. Whatever may have been said on various boards about this group, this is an excellent slice of epic UK doom. If you count Candlemass, Dream Death, Abdullah, Oversoul, or even Cirith Ungol as major favorites, then you owe it to yourself to pick it up.	1. Lamentations IV 2. Neither Time nor Tide 3. Only the Strong 4. Absolution Extremis 5. These Forever Bleak Paths 6. Empty Lies the Oaken Throne 7. Last Wish 8. Wintermoon Rapture 9. The Man Who Lost the Sun 10. Ragnarok Approx. 57 minutes (re-release by Candlelight USA)
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh
New Dark Age (CD) 2000 Misanthropy
Solstice is a young doom band from the United Kingdom. Their full-lenght 'New Dark Age 'from '98 is a dull and exhausting traditional doom album with only few good moments. Oh, wait. That's not completely fair, is it? To be quite honest, I never could quite get into this album, mainly due to the fact that I utterly dislike the vocals. Generally, I have nothing against this kind of old-style clear vocals, but I'm afraid I simply could not digest them here. Mind you, a nice grunt here and there would fit the music very nicely. The singer insists on emphasizing the letter 'R' throughout the album, which irritated me on more than a few occasions. As far as the music is concerned, there are a few interesting bits, like in the epic 'Cimmerian Codex' or in 'Hammer of Damnation'. The songs are quite long, the longest being over fifteen minutes in length. Another thing I dislike are the short songs, with acoustic guitars and spoken parts which have a strong sense of deja vu. An interesting piece of info about this band, is that a certain Gian Piras, who was with Solstice from '93 on, left the band to join the well known British band Cradle of Filth. Overall, an album that simply failed to move me, but I'll keep an eye on Solstice in the future nevertheless.	1. New Dark Age 2. The Sleeping Tyrant 3. Cimmerian Codex 4. Alchemiculte 5. Hammer Of Damnation 6. The Anguine Rose 7. Blackthorne 8. The Keep 9. Cromlech 10. New Dark Age II 11. Legion XIII Approx. 66 minutes
Reviewed by: Bojan Janjanin
Halcyon (CD) 2000 Invictus Productions
'Halcyon' is a collection of the first 5 years of Solstice. Due to endless line-up and label problems, Solstice has suffered a lot the last few years. It also caused this album to be "delayed" for a long time, because the label they licensed it to went bankrupt! Fortunately, with the help of friends the band managed to retrace their old work and slap on a few additional tracks. And here we are, 'Halcyon' re-released. Personally, I am glad they managed to get this release out to a wider audience. This is a prime example of solid traditional Doom-metal, with at times a good dose of Heavy-metal. Solstice know the trick of the trade well, and it shows. This is no Death-Doom, there are no Gothic-metal influences nor is it a Stoner Rock 'N Roll fest. These are epic, long-winded wailing songs that drag themselves forth at good old slow doomy pace. Bands like Candlemass or Solitude Aeternus can be proud. There are two odd ones out on this album, first there is the title track. This is a nice medieval non-metal piece of music, something I'd much sooner associate with pure Neo-Medieval gothic outfits like perhaps Caprise. Solstice show they also master this style, as it's a nice enjoyable intermezzo from the misery found on this album. The second odd one out is not something I myself am particularly fond off, but which of course is part of the package that is Solstice; the Manowar cover 'Gloves of Metal'. Being huge Manowar fans, it does not surprise me Solstice choose to cover them. While the song fits the "True™ metal" image Solstice are fond off, musically it does not fit at all. Manowar songs like 'Defender', 'Burning', 'Guyana' or even 'Army of the Immortals' (if they wanted it to be about "heavy metal") might have fitted much better with Solstice's own sound. In fact I can think of a dozen or so Manowar songs that could be converted to Doom-metal with much more ease. All in all, this is an album for the fans of old school Doom-metal, -the heavy-metal way-, who are not interested in the whole Stoner hype (who often also lay claim on being old school due to their heavy Sabbath influence). The fact that they inject their music with a massive dose of Heavy-metal, might however mean they won't appeal to fans of Death-Doom or more romantic/atmospheric Doom freaks. Incidentally, with the hidden bonus track on this album Solstice prove to have a great sense of humour. A speedy version of old game music! Absolutely hilarious, it had me rolling around on the floor. My deepest respect to Solstice for that one. Absolutely brilliant!	1. The Ravenmaster 2. To Ride With Tyr 3. Graven Deep 4. Halcyon 5. Gloves of Metal 6. Only the Strong 7. Winter Moon Rapture Approx. 45 minutes (re-release)
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel