SOLSTICE - The Sentencing (REPULSIVE ECHO - LP 2014)
There are several labels
nowadays, which specialize in re-releasing all those old demos / old albums –
and damn, I have nothing against that phenomenon, since a lot of these reissues
turned out simply awesome. Not all of course, as sometimes they reissue stuff,
which I think is not worthy and not interesting for me or the quality of the
reissue is too fuckin poor – but that’s always individual opinion. Anyway,
recently in Greece a new such record label has been formed, called Repulsive
Echoes. Their first release, which I bought was an awesome classic demo of
Diabolic “City of the Dead” – very well done vinyl version of this old US death
metal crusher. And later a second vinyl came out, with another old US death
metal squadron called Solstice with their legendary debut full length album,
here in this version titled “The Sentencing” (originally simply called
“Solstice” and released in 1992 on CD). This vinyl release was surely something
that die hard death metal maniacs and fans of this album have been waiting for
years – there were some different CD versions, but never LP. So, great idea
from Repulsive Echoes to make this dream real! The pressing as limited to 500
copies (with three different colour versions), all sold out by now, as far as I
know… So, happy I am to have one copy! And this LP is very well released. Great
quality print, nice poster, awesome sound. Definitely it’s worth all the
trouble and money and will not disappoint the maniacs!
I must say that I haven’t
heard Solstice debut album for years. I used to have it on cassette, I had one
of those Polish pirates, but that was almost 20 years ago he! And last time I
listened to “Solstice” was probably in the late 90’s. I admit also that I
basically forgot about their existence and was reminded about them only few
years ago. So, I played this beautiful vinyl and listened to this album first
time in such a long time… and damn! It didn’t grow old at all! It still sounds
so fuckin killer and brutal! And I am sure that whoever out there have never
heard this band and this album, but he loves such classic US death metal
masterpieces like “Retribution”, “Beyond the Unknown”, “Embalmed Existence”,
“Imperial Doom”, “Tortured Existence” or “Dying Remains” then he will also
love “The Sentencing”! Malevolent Creation and Resurrection would be my main
comparisons here; and I mean such aspects as the production (typical heavy and
thick Florida sound), dense, technical playing, intense riffs and great vocals
– performed by Rob Barrett, who you surely know from Cannibal Corpse and
Malevolent Creation and who turned out to be not only a great guitar player,
but also impressive vocalist, whose vocals sound close to such Brett Hoffmann.
More so, Alex Marquez played drums on the album, so he’s another proof that
there won’t be any weak stuff.
The album contains eight
crushing and thrashing death metal songs plus one cover, which is also the only
part of the record, which I am not so much fond of. It is a cover of Carnivore,
who I never been into, I don’t like such music, so in the past I did not like
this song and now, when I know it is Carnivore cover it still doesn’t speak to
me. But the rest of the album is superb quality, slightly thrashing, but brutal
and intense, technical death metal, with such great tracks like “Transmogrified”
or “Netherworld”. Powerful stuff, which simply must be played loud, so you can
feel its energy and intensity. The vinyl plays wonderfully, I have no
objections at all, so… I would recommend you getting this LP, but it is too
late now hehe! But maybe you’ll get lucky and get a copy on some internet
auctions, maybe you’ll find a CD… whatever, but this album must be in your
collection, if any bands or titles I mentioned in this review are your thing! And
keep your eyes open for the upcoming releases of Repulsive Echo – Gutted,
Oppressor (US)… Damn!
Standout tracks: “Transmogrified”,
“Netherworld”.
Final rate: 85/100
No comments:
Post a Comment