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Sólstafir

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Sólstafir
Sólstafir at Brutal Assault 2015
Sólstafir at Brutal Assault 2015
Background information
OriginIceland
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels
Members
  • Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvason
  • Sæþór Maríus "Pjúddi" Sæþórsson
  • Svavar "Svabbi" Austmann
  • Hallgrímur Jón "Grimsi" Hallgrímsson
Past members
  • Halldór Einarsson
  • Guðmundur Óli "Gummi" Pálmason
Websitesolstafir.net Edit this at Wikidata

Sólstafir is an Icelandic post-metal band formed in 1995 and currently signed to Century Media. Originally a black metal band, they transitioned to a post-metal-influenced style with slight traces of their earlier black metal.

History

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Sólstafir was formed in 1995 by guitarist/singer Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, bassist Halldór Einarsson, and drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason.[1] The band's name is the Icelandic word for sun beams (crepuscular rays).[2] They soon recorded the demos Í Norðri and Til Valhallar.[3] Halldór then left the band, and Aðalbjörn and Guðmundur recorded a promo tape as a duo in 1997.[3]

During this period, Svavar Austmann joined as the new bassist and the band began recording their debut full-length album, Í Blóði og Anda. The album was not released until 2002 due to various recording delays and label disputes.[1] Shortly after that album was completed, second guitarist Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson joined the band and made his debut on the 2002 demo Black Death.[1]

After shopping around a three-track demo of new songs, Sólstafir signed with Spinefarm Records in 2005.[4] Their second album Masterpiece of Bitterness was released by Spinefarm later that year. The album received positive reviews, with Metal Storm stating "the perfect mix of non-Metal elements with metal ones makes it a necessary album for any Metalhead looking for something that breaks the mold of pre-established genres."[5]

Their third album Köld was recorded in Sweden and released in 2009.[6] Reviewers compared the band's sound to Enslaved and Neurosis, among others, while noting their unique post-black metal sound.[7] The album was also noted for its addition of atmospheric passages.[1] Sólstafir began to tour Europe regularly in 2010 and made their first of many open-air appearances at the Roskilde Festival that year.[8]

Sólstafir's fourth full-length album, Svartir Sandar, was released by Season of Mist in 2011. The song "Fjara"[9] remained in the 2013 list of Iceland's top 100 songs of 20 years.[10] This album signaled Sólstafir's retreat from black metal and move toward experimental atmospherics of the type practiced by fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós.[11]

Their fifth album Ótta was released by Season of Mist in 2014, and was noted for its additional experimental elements like strings and piano.[12] Three official music videos were released and the band performed Iceland's national television channel, RÚV's Stúdio Á.[13]

In January 2015, the band announced that longtime drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason had left the band for "personal reasons". Guðmundur replied immediately via the band's Twitter account, explaining that he had been "stonewalled by ex-bandmates" and forced out of the band by Aðalbjörn Tryggvason. Guðmundur was replaced by Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson.[1] After his departure from the band Guðmundur formed post metal band Katla.

Sólstafir released their sixth full-length album, Berdreyminn, in May 2017 on Season of Mist.[14] Upon its release Berdreyminn entered international charts, mostly top 50, across Europe.[15]

On 6 November 2020, Sólstafir released their seventh studio album, Endless Twilight of Codependent Love.[16]

Members

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Aðalbjörn Tryggvason on the Barge to Hell 2012

Current members

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  • Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvason – guitar, vocals (1995–present)
  • Svavar "Svabbi" Austmann – bass (1999–present)
  • Sæþór Maríus "Pjúddi" Sæþórsson – guitar (2002–present)
  • Hallgrímur Jón "Grimsi" Hallgrímsson – drums (2015–present, on touring hiatus 2023–2024), backing vocals (2020–present)

Former members

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  • Halldór Einarsson – bass (1995–1997)
  • Guðmundur Óli Pálmason – drums (1995–2015)

Former touring members

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  • Ari "Sneakers/Strigaskór" Steinarsson – drums (2015, 2023–2024)
  • Kristján Einar Guðmundsson – drums (2024)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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  • Til Valhallar (EP), 1996
  • Black Death (EP), 2002
  • Ótta (Radio Edit) + Til Valhallar (EP), 2014
  • Ótta Sampler EP / Bonus: Live at Hellfest 2014 (EP), 2014
  • Tilberi (EP), 2016
  • Silfur-Refur (EP), 2017

Demos

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  • Í Norðri (demo), 1995
  • Promo Tape September 1997 (demo), 1997
  • Black Death (demo), 2001
  • Promo 2004 (demo), 2004

Singles

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  • 2011: "Fjara"
  • 2012: "Æra"
  • 2013: "Þín orð"
  • 2014: "Ótta"
  • 2024: "Hin Helga Kvöl"
  • 2024: "Hún andar"

Splits/compilations

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  • "Fire & Ice - An Icelandic Metal Compilation" (Compilation), 1997
  • "Fjara/Runaway Train" (Split with Legend), 2014

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Monger, James Christopher. "Solstafir: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Solstafir". Prog Archives. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Sólstafir: Discography". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Sólstafir – Original Rockers". Iceland Music. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Sólstafir - Masterpiece Of Bitterness review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Interview: Sólstafir" (14 March 2009). R.U.M.zine. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Sólstafir - Köld". Metal Reviews. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. ^ Chirulescu, Andrea (14 May 2012). "SOLSTAFIR - We are Fucking Bastards". Eternal Terror. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Video: Icelandic Highland Coffin Popular on YouTube". Iceland Review. 26 July 2012.
  10. ^ "100 vinsælustu lög X977 í 20 ár". Vísir – x97.7. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  11. ^ Kantor, Konrad (31 January 2012). "Sólstafir – Svartir Sandar Review". Last Rites. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  12. ^ Selzer, Jonathan (7 July 2014). "Solstafir: The Path Less Travelled". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  13. ^ "SцЁlstafir - Dagmц║l | Rц V". Ruv.is. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  14. ^ Solstafir's 'Berdreyminn' Exposes the Dark Side of Utopia
  15. ^ "Sólstafir Etner The International Album Charts With 'Berdreyminn'". Dark Art Conspiracy. 10 June 2017.
  16. ^ "SÓLSTAFIR Reveals New Album Details; Livestreams New Single - BraveWords". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Sólstafir announces new album Svartir Sandar details". Metal Underground. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  18. ^ "SÓLSTAFIR Reveals New Album Details; Livestreams New Single - BraveWords". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  19. ^ Keith Clement (7 August 2024). "SÓLSTAFIR – Release "Hún andar" from "Hin helga kvöl"". Metalheads Forever Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
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