Sólstafir

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 traces of their earlier sound.

History

Guitarist/singer Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, bassist Halldór Einarsson, and drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason formed Sólstafir in 1995. The band's name is Icelandic for sun beams (crepuscular rays). They recorded the demos Í Norðri and Til Valhallar. Halldór left the band, and Aðalbjörn and Guðmundur recorded a promo tape in 1997.

During this period, bassist Svavar Austmann joined the band, and they began recording their debut full-length album, Í Blóði og Anda. The album was released in 2002 due to recording delays and label disputes. Shortly after completing the album, second guitarist Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson joined the band and debuted on the 2002 demo Black Death.

After shopping around a three-track demo, Sólstafir signed with Spinefarm Records in 2005. The labe released their second album, Masterpiece of Bitterness, later that year. The album received positive reviews. Metal Storm stated, "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."

They recorded their third album, Köld, in Sweden, and released it in 2009. Reviewers compared the band's sound to Enslaved and Neurosis, among others, while noting their post-black metal sound. The album was noted for its atmospheric passages. Sólstafir toured Europe regularly in 2010, and made their first of many open-air appearances at the Roskilde Festival that year.

Sólstafir released their fourth album, Svartir Sandar, on Season of Mist in 2011. The song "Fjara" remained in the 2013 list of Iceland's top 100 songs of 20 years. This album retreated from black metal and move toward experimental atmospherics reminiscent of Sigur Rós.

Season of Mist released their fifth album, Ótta, in 2014. It was noted for experimental elements like strings and piano. The band released three official music videos, and performed on Stúdíó A, for Iceland's national television channel, RÚV.

In January 2015, the band announced that drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason left the band for "personal reasons". Pálmason tweeted that he had been "stonewalled by ex-bandmates" and that Aðalbjörn Tryggvason forced him out of the band. Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson replaced Pálmason. After his departure, Pálmason formed post metal band Katla.

Sólstafir released their sixth album, Berdreyminn, in May 2017 on Season of Mist. Upon release, Berdreyminn entered international charts, mostly top 50, across Europe.

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

In early 2023, the band supported Katatonia on tour.

Members

Aðalbjörn Tryggvason on the Barge to Hell 2012

Current members

Former members

Former touring members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Demos

Singles

Splits/compilations

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Monger, James Christopher. "Solstafir: Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Solstafir". Prog Archives. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 "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. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. 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. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  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. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  12. ↑ Selzer, Jonathan (7 July 2014). "Solstafir: The Path Less Travelled". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sólstafir - Dagmál". Ríkisútvarpið (in Icelandic). 6 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Moller, Alex De (4 May 2017). "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. 1 2 "SÓLSTAFIR Reveals New Album Details; Livestreams New Single - BraveWords". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 5 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Rock + Metal Bands Touring in 2023". Loudwire. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Sólstafir announces new album Svartir Sandar details". Metal Underground. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  19. ↑ Keith Clement (7 August 2024). "SÓLSTAFIR – Release "Hún andar" from "Hin helga kvöl"". Metalheads Forever Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2024.