Solstice (GBR) - New Dark Age (1998)^{Release ID: 3343}

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.

Rich Walker has been doing this a long time. Solstice were formed in 1990, yet have only released their third album in 2018! I can only assume it took twenty years because Mr Walker wasn't ever convinced he could adequately follow up such a bona fide classic as this. The greatest example of Epic Doom, bar none, this is crammed with classics. Solstice generally and on this release particularly, manage to project an essential englishness better than any other band I know (except maybe Jethro Tull), particularly from a time when England was still called Albion. It conjures scenes of mighty castles and epic battles with such vividness that you can almost smell the shit flowing in the streets! Also a special mention must go to Morris Ingram who's fantastic vocals give flight to Rich's vision.