Solstice-'Lamentations'-Epic Doom!!

[Father_Doom]

Band: Solstice
Album: Lamentations
Format: CD
Label: Candlelight USA
Time: 57 minutes
Year: 2001
Track list:

Lamentations IV
Neither Time nor Tide
Only the Strong
Absolution Extremis
These Forever Bleak Paths
Empty Lies the Oaken Throne
Last Wish
Wintermoon Rapture
The Man Who Lost the Sun
Ragnarok

Label Site and Cover Photo: www.plastichead.com/cgi-bin/candlelight/candle.cgi

Purchase at Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005M0EL/qid=1023197892/sr=1-34/ref=sr_1_34/104-6993603-6543942

This version of ‘Lamentations’ is Candlelight’s 2001 reissue of 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 Rime 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 solos 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.

Kevin McHugh

[F_Rock]

This sounds pretty good - nice review Dad!

Did these guys go a bit wobbly after this album or something? Why the negative comments that are floating around?

[Father_Doom]

Hey-

I'm a staff member at Doom-metal.com (in case you didn't know, ha ha), and there was quite an ugly scene between at least one member of Solstice and our website.  He/they asked to be removed from our bandlist, and quite a few words were bandied about.  This was probably about the same time the band broke up.

I don't know about any other negativity besides that.

[F_Rock]

I was just going by your ''Whatever may be said on various boards'' comment. I figured this meant negativity.

The fact that your site has stirred up some trouble has prompted me to go and check it out! Cheers Dad!

Why did he/they want off your bandlist? Just a bad breakup or what? Meanwhile - this band sounds pretty cool.

[Father_Doom]

Hey F-Rock:

There were some disagreements between a representative of Solstice and Doom-metal.com's webmaster that were long and involved.  I was only privy to part of it, but the correspondence went on for ages.  I do remember that the individual from Solstice had some major issues with their former guitar player who has now gone on to join My Dying Bride.  If you've read much on Doom-metal.com, you know that My Dying Bride is pretty much a uiversal favorite there, so its easy to pick a fight if you want to say anything negative about them.  

Hope that helps?