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The Icelandic band Sólstafir returns to release “Berdreyminn” after a band lineup change. Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson became in charge of the drums. Considered as one of the most mysterious bands in the universe of metal music, they maintain in this release what can be considered it’s strangeness elements. Furthermore, this album shows a more straightforward direction in the misty song construction of the band.
We can still find the drowning post rock guitars, the creation of mournful atmospheres sustained by melancholic piano melodies and exotic lyrics sung in Icelandic. All these make this band unique in the genre, but their doom feeling provided in their previous records, somehow lacks in Berdreyminn. Nonetheless, songs like “Silfur-refur”, “Ísafold”, “Hula”, “Nárós” and “Hvítsæng” will take the listener to a foggy world where ethereal nature fuses with organic music. The album ends with one of their best songs, “Bláfjall”, that demonstrates the progressive side of this record in all its glory. Berdreyminn was produced by Birgir Birgirsson (SigurRós, Alcest) and Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, OranssiPazuzu).
For those that have been closely following the band, comparing to it’s predecessor records this might not be their best release. To others, it will have the expected effect of discovering something completely new and diverse like all the band’s records since Kold. For all Sólstafir’s first time listeners this album will surely leave it’s mark.
7/10
