Carpe Noctem - "In Terra Profugus" (2013)

Carpe Noctem

"In Terra Profugus"

Code666 Recs.

2013

Carpe Noctem is a band from Iceland. And also from three other places, 'cuz that's a name of three other bands, which are now dead and gone. So their name is not really original, but luckily their music is way more.
The album starts with some disturbing noises and slow, heavy riffs reminding me an ancient death/doom from the sign of Celtic Frost. But after some time it changes to extremely fast and heavy cannonade of more modern black metal (with influences of Gorgoroth and some other bands from the second wave). And I must say that the band knows how to create a a total sonic annihilation! The music is almost litteraly destroying auditory system with fast parts, and a vocalist screams like some old, possessed demon! His growls are deep as a well and very powerful.
Yet quite often the band is turning to slower parts. And that's those most original moments. For me icelandic music had always a bit of psychedelic sound (and I am talking here not only abot metal scene). And that's also the case of Carpe Noctem - the slow parts are a bit fuzzy, and quite often accompanied by weird noises like e.g. forged piano sounds in slower parts of "Ars Moriendi" or orchestral samples here and there. But I must admit that even if the music slows down, it doesn't loose it's heaviness or power. So don't expect some post-rock like riffs. "In Terra Profugus" sounds strange and sinister for almost all the time - both in quick, destructive parts and slow, psychedelic ones.
It's hard to indicate which track is my favourite or which is the worst - the album is incredible for almost all the time. That music is really addictive - I listen to it for some time now and I don't think that I will forget about this album in the nearest future. And what's more surprising "In Terra..." is just a debut album (beside two demos and an EP)! Yet Carpe Noctem has already procreated a monster - a horrific and grim soundtrack through the mind of a madman. I recommend this release to every fan of extremity. And expect another portion of insanity in the future!

Rate: 9+/10
Vladyka

Tracklist:

III Odium Somniferum

II Ars Moriendi

I VITRIOL

II Metamorphoses Maleficarum

III Hostis Humani Generis

Solstafir - "Svartir Sandar" (2011)

Solstafir

"Svartir Sandar"

Season of Mist

2011

For those who don't know this band - Solstafir is hailing from Iceland. They are playing a psychedelic/progressive metal (although they started as a viking metal act), and "Svartir Sandar" is their 4th full lenght album.
It is also a bit different than the previous one, "Kold". The first thing that comes to ear is the production - it's much lighter. It can be still very sultry, but there are also moments when it become more spacious. Thanks to that the riffs are not as heavy as they used to be in the past. They lost some of their power, but from the other side they become more hypnotic now, which is also an interresting thing. The music is diverse - and it's very important, due to the fact that this album lasts for almost 80 minutes! That's really long, but fortunetely Solstafir knows how to rivet listener's attention. The music is this time stronger inspired by a classic rock (Led Zeppelin, for example) than their previous creativeness. From what I hear it concerns mostly the second CD. A bit strange, yet such tracks as "Stormfari" seems to confirm my words.
But the base is here still the same. Production - despite of mentioned differences - is still enough sultry and first of all psychedelic, with "cold sound" and many echeos of guitar. Solstafir's riffs are clearly inspired by post-rock, classic rock acts and proggresion. Luckily not that boring proggresion from the sign of Dream Theater with thousand of guitar solos masturbation, but from this more atmospherical bands. The music is really not very complicated, it bases mainly on frugal riffs, simple drum beats and some relishes hidden in the background. Technically it's not a masterpiece, but it's not a point here- the point is an atmosphere! And the guys know how to create it. What especially makes impression are vocals - Adalbjorn has such a characteristic, thrilling voice that your heart has to be made of stone if you are not moved after listening to such "Thin Ord", haha! The band very often goes into faster, more dynamic areas and I must say that was a good idea. If they would play constantly slow, minimalistic tracks like "Fjara" I would fell into a sleep after some time. And well, that's more or less everything I wanted to write.
If you would like to see pristine, cold landscapes of Iceland and you don't have enough money for a ticket you can always buy this album. It will bring you there, as it's just a sonic trip through the wildest parts of this island. Solstafir created something really great, something that will be appreciated by the people who loves a bit of frosty tunes in the music...

Rate: 8+/10
Vladyka

P.S
Here you can watch the amazing video created for the first single, "Fjara":

Tracklist:
(Disc 1)
1. Ljos i Stormi
2. Fjara
3. Thin Ord
4. Sjuki Skuggin
5. Aera
6. Kukl

(Disc 2)
1. Melrakkalbus
2. Draumfari
3. Stinningskaldi
4. Stormfari
5. Svartir Sandar
6. Djakninn