I shall
begin with a precision: The two albums Sól I – Der Dorn im Nebel and
Sól II – Zweige der Erinnerung, released separately, also offer an artbook
edition of Sól that is to be regarded as the band's principal offering;
it unites both records and contains a 50-page large-format book which expands
the song lyrics into the dimensions of a classic drama and presents exclusive
illustrations and a preface by Skald Draugir.
Helrunar were already
calling for attention with their 2003 demo Grátr and their two first
albums have contributed to give them a renown from early on. The first chords of
Sól let cling no more than the fact that Helrunar is rock solid
and a patriarch to a new wave of international black-metal.
Lyrics-wise, Helrunar's aim with Sól is nothing less than the
attempt to revive mythical language and contents, thus opening up a whole new
approach of handling mythical symbols and subject matter. Helrunar
transfer this spiritual, at times surreal narrative style, to the dynamics of
their 100-minutes opus, effortlessly transcending the dogma-riddled genre.
Beware! The oppressiveness and credibility detected on Sól redefine the
standards of pagan black metal.
