UMUR "Casting the Die" is the fourth full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Solstice. The album was released through Emanzipation Productions in May 2021. It´s the successor to "To Dust" from 2009 and only guitarist Dennis Munoz remains from the lineup who recorded the predecessor. Original drummer and founding member Alex Marquez has returned to the fold though. Ryan Tayler has joined on guitar and lead vocals and Marcel Salas has joined on bass.

Tayler´s vocal style is in the raw macho hardcore end of the scale, and as a consequence the death metal part of the band´s sound is almost completely gone, and "Casting the Die" more a hardcore/crossover influenced thrash metal release featuring both fast-paced thrashy riffs and rhythms but also heavier mid-paced hardcore influenced grooves. To my ears this album shouldn´t have been released under the Solstice monicker, as it´s too far from the music style featured on the three preceding releases and as a consequence this doesn´t really sound like Solstice at all.

The musicianship is on a high level on all posts, and it´s audible that these guys can play (the bassist is very busy, although his clicky sounding bass tone is pretty awful). The album also features a decent sounding production job (other than the clicky bass tone). It´s a bit sterile sounding, flat, and lacking some punch, but other than that it´s alright. The big issue here is the singwriting, which firstly isn´t particularly effective and secondly doesn´t sound like the band who´s name is on the cover. Upon conclusion "Casting the Die" isn´t a bad quality release, but it´s a confusing and slightly frustrating listen for someone who´s a fan of the earlier releases by the band. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "To Dust" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US, Florida based death/thrash metal act Solstice. The album was released through CXD Media in November 2009. Solstice was formed in 1990 and released their eponymously titled debut album in 1992 before they disbanded in 1993. They reunited shortly in the period 1995-1997 and released their second full-lengh studio album "Pray" in 1995. After that they had a few short reunions, but it wasn´t until 2006 they reunited again on a more permanent basis. "To Dust" is the fruits of the reunion. Considering the many years between "Pray (1995)" and "To Dust" it´s actually a bit impressive that there has only been one lineup change as drummer Alex Marquez has been replaced by Brian Harris.

Stylistically the material on the 11 track, 41:47 minutes long album is a brutal type of death/thrash metal not far removed from the output of an artist like Malevolent Creation. Sometimes closer to death metal than to thrash metal and sometimes the other way around. It´s fast, it´s heavy, and it´s brutal. Lead vocalist/guitarist Christian Rudes has an aggressive snarling delivery which suits the powerful and raw death/thrash material perfectly (he sounds a lot like Brett Hoffman from Malevolent Creation).

The material is relatively well written and very effective if you crave a fix of brutality and aggression. It could have been a bit more hook laden and the tracks could have prospered from more variation between them, but those aren´t major issues, and overall "To Dust" is a solid effort when it comes to the songwriting. The sound production is for the most part also well sounding and suits the music, but there is an issue with the way the bass is produced. It´s placed relatively high in the mix and features a metallic clicky sound, which really isn´t that pleasant on the ears.

The musicianship is on a high level on all posts and you´ll be treated to tight precision playing throughout the album´s playing time. So upon conclusion "To Dust" features many assets which make it a pretty strong death/thrash metal release, but also a couple of issues which means it doesn´t quite reach the excellent mark. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Pray" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Solstice. The album was released through SPV/Steamhammer in 1995. Solstice was formed in 1990 by guitarists Dennis Muñoz and Rob Barret (also lead vocals) and drummer Alex Marquez. They were joined by bassist Mark van Erp for the recording of their debut full-length studio album "Solstice (1992)", but shortly after the release of that album Rob Barret and Alex Marquez were recruited by Malevolent Creation for the recording of their second full-length studio album "Retribution (1992)" and Solstice was put on hold. Alex Marquez stayed with Malevolent Creation for the recording of "Stillborn (1993)" before being part of reforming Solstice, but Rob Barret didn´t return to the ranks, as he was asked to join Cannibal Corpse in 1993 and accepted the offer. Barret is replaced here by guitarist/lead vocalist Christian Rudes. Bassist Mark van Erp didn´t take part in the reunion either and he is replaced here by Garrett Scott.

While only half of the lineup, who recorded the debut, are therefore part of the lineup on "Pray", the music on the album still sounds like Solstice. It´s still brutal thrash tinged death metal, featuring a decent amount of tempo changes, crushingly heavy riffing, fast precision drumming, and a brutal growling yet intelligible vocalist. As such not that different from the music offered on the debut, but maybe a notch more brutal. I´ve already mentioned Malevolent Creation a couple of times above, and it´s not only members that the two acts share. Musicially there are also clear references to Malevolent Creation in Solstice music. I hear some Demolition Hammer in the music too (which is a band Alex Marquez would also record with).

The musicianship are on a high level on all positions. These guys are a tight playing unit with a clear vision of how their music should sound. The heavy and meaty sound production helps bring out the best in the tracks too. The only issue with "Pray" is probably that the material are a bit one-dimensional and as a consequence the tracks generally aren´t easy to tell apart. As with most releases this relentlessly brutal and musically conservative, that´s nothing out of the ordinary though. For what it is, "Pray" ultimately is a very effective, raw and energetic death/thrash metal release by Solstice. It didn´t exactly make waves back then though and the band soon disbanded (they´ve since reunited). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Solstice" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Solstice. The album was released through Steamhammer Records in 1992. Solstice featured among others a couple of rather prolific musicians in vocalist/guitarist Rob Barret (Malevolent Creation, Cannibal Corpse) and drummer Alex Marquez (Malevolent Creation).

The music on the album is a rather brutal take on thrash metal. Call it death/thrash if you will. Artists like Demolition Hammer and Malevolent Creation are valid references. Rob Barret sings in a semi-growling and intelligible vocal style. His style is slightly one-dimensional but no less effective because of that. The tracks are aggressive, powerful, raw and technically well played. The tracks are loaded with breaks and other intriguing drumming details which isn´t surprising if you are familiar with the very skilled and fast playing Alex Marquez. The Carnivore cover "S.M.D." (yes that´s short for "Suck My Dick") doesn´t exactly make my blood boil, but the original material on the album is of high quality albeit seldom really excellent.

"Solstice" is overall a good debut album, and while I don´t join the choir that call this is a forgotten "classic", a 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.