When it comes to Black Metal, we agree that Norway has the spark to brighten every fan’s eye, correct? But… is Norway, still, the heavy-weight contender that used to be? Let’s find out.
‘Kronet i Mørke, Døpt i vestens vrede’ is Sølyst’s first demo, released in 2025, and it shows a band that clearly took inspiration from their countrymen, who has not, and it replicates it quite well. Hey, replicate might not be the correct word. We all need to be very conscious that “the wheel has been invented”; I might take a risk, and say that in terms of Black Metal, there is nothing else to invent, only renovate.
Sølyst did not invent the wheel; Sølyst plays Black Metal music with a more atmospheric sound, with a sweetness that we did not have in the 90s and 00s, in Norway. Again… renovate, not create. And I am very happy that it happens the way it does. I am one of those fans that prefer that people do not “play around” with the sound. Sorry, not sorry. Funny thing about Sølyst is that his twists and turns are quite interesting, and you still have that idea “where have I heard this”, meaning he is still able to stay true to the roots of the genre, by Norway’s Black Metal standards.
1 intro, 2 tracks, 1 outro, for a total of 22 minutes and 19 seconds of very interesting music. I was completely unaware of this artist, but found his music to be, as mentioned before, very interesting. The overall atmosphere is cold, yet it lures you in, it calls for you. It feels welcoming, never a threat. Odd, I know; sound-wise, it is perfect! I recommend it to whoever enjoys a more atmospheric, and soften approach to Black Metal, and still have a powerful sound.
