Sol

Let There Be a Massacre

Van 2007

Epic and powerfully depressing Funeral Doom Death oozes forth at a glacially slow pace on Let There be a Massacre, the debut album from Denmark's one man band, Sol.  Resurrecting echoes of Finland's stylistic progenitors Thergothon through Sol's use of dismal and desolate melodies over crushing sonic boulders and tragically slow drumming.  Snares and cymbals mark a grief stricken procession through each song.  The guitars cut large swathes through the darkness with downtuned reverb and gurgling bass lines.  Emil Sol Brahe's vocals utter unfeeling grimness through deep guttural rumblings.  The vocals are changed up a little for the opening passages of Boginki where a tinge of bombastic despair and venom are added via a more "shouted" technique.  Also it is quite unique to hear that accordion layered into the track imbuing the atmosphere with a hint of nostalgia despite the malice and sincere disgust towards all life.  Where Angels Rot has such a tear freezing melody woven into its opening fabric that grabs my heart and withers it like decaying flowers on a grave.  The final track, Apocalypse is an instrumental musing of nontraditional instruments(at least within the metal paradigm).  Within its framework are combined accordion with banjo and other instruments into a perpetually flowing river of melancholy.  Lyrically Sol is so devoid of human emotion and caring of any sort towards humanity that it nearly chills my soul.  Sol is so devastatingly bleak that it is nearly unbearable.  But I have missed this underrated style of soulcrushing Funeral Doom which turns all life to ashes and all that is pure and warm to a scorched husk.  Even though this music is so bleak I can't help but be overjoyed at the fact that there is finally someone besides Australia's Funeral Mourning who is attempting this style.  Sheer perfection!!!  "End All Life" indeed!!!!!!