Today, Iceland’s SÓLSTAFIR have released their brand new single and video for ‘Blakkrakki’, taken from their upcoming album, Hin helga kvöl, due on 8th November via Century Media.
Watch the video for ‘Blakkrakki’ here.
Stream ‘Blakkrakki’ here.
Pre-order Hin helga kvöl here.
SÓLSTAFIR, meaning ‘crepuscular rays’ in Icelandic, refers to those piercing rays of sunlight that break through dark clouds at dusk. This imagery perfectly captures the essence of their upcoming album, Hin helga kvöl, a beacon of light and hope shining through the heaviest of times. As the band confronts their inner demons, shrugging off the trappings of rock and roll decadence, their music resonates with the universal struggle and triumph over hardship. Hin helga kvöl is the holy war that we all face within.
Their latest single and video, ‘Blakkrakki’ ( = “Black Dog”) deals with a similar subject: the black dog as a metaphor that has its origin in myth and folklore. Likewise, the new video for ‘Blakkrakki’ literally transfers the meaning of those rays of sunlight breaking through twilight into a wild ride.
On the making of the music video, BowenStaines, Director for Don’t Panic Films, explains:
“Myself and the band initially had the idea for this music video four years ago – the guys are playing the song while standing on a flatbed trailer doing sixty miles per hour on a stretch of highway surrounded on all sides by one of the oldest lava flows in Iceland. ‘Blakkrakki’ was a blast to make, and we hope you have fun watching it, too.”
Hin helga kvöl runs the gamut between SÓLSTAFIR‘s black metal roots and their penchant for tuneful, anthemic rock, all while maintaining sprawling instrumentation where it counts most. It is Aðalbjörn Tryggvason‘s voice that brings ‘Hin helga kvöl’s message, tortured vitality and dramatic earnestness to the forefront. The signature orchestration of SÓLSTAFIR‘s innate riff, tone and rhythm balances lush production and stripped-back vigor, with exhilarating time signature changes. At the heart of Hin helga kvöl are the heartfelt and electrifying personal performances of the band that highlight SÓLSTAFIR‘s ability to merge genres seamlessly into something unheard of. The stunning eloquence in cover artist Rowan E Cassidy’s charcoal shadows perfectly illustrates the substrate ravines and breath-taking altitudes that Hin helga kvöl‘s songs submit us to
Hin helga kvöl runs the gamut between SÓLSTAFIR‘s black metal roots and their penchant for tuneful, anthemic rock, all while maintaining sprawling instrumentation where it counts most. It is Aðalbjörn Tryggvason‘s voice that brings ‘Hin helga kvöl’s message, tortured vitality and dramatic earnestness to the forefront. The signature orchestration of SÓLSTAFIR‘s innate riff, tone and rhythm balances lush production and stripped-back vigor, with exhilarating time signature changes. At the heart of Hin helga kvöl are the heartfelt and electrifying personal performances of the band that highlight SÓLSTAFIR‘s ability to merge genres seamlessly into something unheard of. The stunning eloquence in cover artist Rowan E Cassidy’s charcoal shadows perfectly illustrates the substrate ravines and breath-taking altitudes that Hin helga kvöl‘s songs submit us to
