Like most bands that get tossed at me to review, I tend to stare long and hard at their music with a sardonic stare and a healthy dose of skepticism. Sometimes, just sometimes, I try a little optimism that the music won't make me facepalm myself with a size-10 Doc Marten. I was shocked: For once, I was surprised to find I enjoyed what I heard (and put the boot back in the closet).
Solfernus comes from the landlocked country of the Czech Republic, nestled right in the metal centre of Europe. This band plays black metal that is firmly rooted in the style birthed by its icy northern neighbors, but Solfernus marches to their own alternative “kvlt” drum beat.
The music video for Mistresserpent, made by Ex Inferi Productions, sticks to a minimalistic approach: band members playing their instruments caked with enough make-up to make them seem unearthly and sick (no corpse paint, curiously enough), nude serpentine women not of this world and the slow-tempo of shrieked vocals, distorted guitars and almost primal drums. You feel tempted to wander a nearby forest after listening.
One viewing lead to a second, and eventually realized that I liked the sound. The track comes from their most recent album, ˜Neoantichrist', which was released last year — via Satanath Records in Europe, and Azermedoth Records in North America – and showcases a more polished version of their craft. Their previous album, ˜Hysteria in Coma', was released in 2005.
The Czech black metallers' brand of extreme metal is accessible in the sense that it doesn't put too much effort on the listener to find the guitar hooks, but allows you to just bob your head, no matter the pace of the tempo.
Quaint and curious band. Interested? Album and band details are below.
˜Neoantichrist' tracklisting:
Solfernus are:
Khaablus — Vocals
Igor — Guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, songwriting
Mamba — Bass
Paul Dread – Drums
Solfernus online:
https://www.facebook.com/SOLFERNUS-322352119065/
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Solfernus/12219
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat180-solfernus-neoantichrist-2017
