SilentScream213 Solstice were one of the earliest bands in the Epic Doom realm, starting in 1990, but they released albums sparingly – 1998’s New Dark Age is only their sophomore release.

Their signature Epic Doom sound remains here, but overall it has more energy and Heavy Metal influence. The guitar leads are quite energetic, playing well over simple sustained chords. The drumming is certainly a high point, being varied, interesting, and full of fills, something uncommon in Doom. Good amount of double bass work too.

Vocals and lyrics are a high point if you like poetic prose; Ingram delivers middle age lamentations and epic tales with powerful conviction. Occasionally, vocal harmonies are used both to create uplifting melody, as well as disharmonious, ominous parts -both used to great effect.

Personally, I really could have done without the Folk music though. I get that it is supposed to compliment the medieval, mythical aesthetic going on here, and I respect that. It just doesn’t work for me; I think it would have needed to be more melancholic, or perhaps add some chamber instruments to really make it work. As it is, just breaks the flow of the album and makes it much less listenable as a whole.

The album ends on two high notes; penultimate track “Cromlech” and closer “New Dark Age II” show the band leaning all the way into opposite ends of their style. Cromlech is the most energetic track, fully Heavy Metal and continuously driver with pounding rhythm and melodic guitar. Vocals are triumphant and powerful. The closer, on the other hand, is the band’s slowest, doomiest dirge to date, forgoing all Heavy Metal influence for true Doom despair, and featuring some super memorable lead guitar lines as well.

Time Signature I am the hunter...

Genre: traditional/doom metal

Hailed as epic doom metal masters, the British act Solstice bestow upon you a four-song EP in the form of "Death's Crown Is Victory". The EP, which is a comeback of sorts was released in 2013 on White Horse and again in February this year on Into The Void Records.

Out of the four tracks, two are actually instrumentals - namely, 'Fortress England' and "Aequinoctium II". The former is slightly epic-sounding and, not surprisingly, militaristically oriented, affair while the latter is a melodic doom metal track. The two non-instrumentals are really more in the vein of traditional metal than doom metal, although they are generally heavy and rich in melancholic melodies. 'I Am The Hunter' offers up some compelling vocals melodies and guitar leads. With its nine minutes worth of playing time, this song reaches epic proportions, and, although it is generally upbeat, it does feature a heavy and doom-laden bridge. The title track is almost ten minutes long and features slightly folksy elements akin to Slough Feg and some neat twin guitar figures. Compared to 'I Am The Hunter', this track is considerably heavier and enters into epic doom metal territory in its own way.

I think this EP is pretty good, and if it is a sign of things to come, then it is also promising. It retains the melancholy of melodic doom metal and infuses it with a slight sense of folk music in much the same way that Slough Feg are known for and what Falconer did on "Armod" (although heavier than both). Fans of such bands should definitely give this EP a listen.