Search - Sol Invictus :: Blade

Most Well-Rounded and Inspiring Sol Invictus

IcemanJ | Ohio, USA | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best folk CD I've gotten so far. This album's songs flow right into each other so well, most of the time unnoticeable. The melodies from one song just cascade into the next and transform and bloom into a new feeling. Sometimes the track changes right in the middle of a melody but soon evolves into something new. I'm only saying this because "Lex Talionis" is the only other Sol Invictus album I have right now, and the songs on that don't "flow" at all and seem a bit incoherent... but they are still mostly good.



The first song begins with a slightly distorted noise, some rudimental drumming, and some horns in the background. Some faint dialogue is heard for a while, and then the acoustic strumming and flute start up. It's a wonderful start to a wonderful album. It slides right into the next song, "In Heaven, "so flawlessly. I love this song, most parts are so peaceful and happy, but also juxtaposed to some unsettling sounding segments. Next, "Time Flies" is a beautiful sounding tune, with what sounds like a mandarin being plucked, but has an extremely pessimistic, cynical outlook on life. With its obvious lyrics like: "Today we are born and tomorrow we die," it talks about how life is so short and pointless. The ending to this song is so climatic and magnificent sounding - it keeps building up and getting faster - and makes the rest of the song sound better.



"The House above the World" is very symphonic with violins, trumpets and piano. This ends with such a breathtaking transition into "Laws and Crowns," which starts with some famous Sol Invictus sounding acoustic strumming. This song isn't outstanding, but definitely good. Next is "Once Upon a Time" with its ancient castle sounding trumpet, flute, and some other sound I can't really explain. Sol Invictus tends to keep repeating the same thing over and over in songs, but when it does change, it has a greater atmospheric alteration. That song flows beautifully into "See How We Fall," another sort of basic song, but near the end is some very strange guitar work.



"Gealdor" begins with some dark, unsettling sounds and slow, horrific wailing... and then the track sneaks into "From the Wreckage" unnoticeably. The same dark ambience is heard but then some gloomy, distressing flute melodies and talking are added. I absolutely love the bleak environment this song creates. Suddenly there is some quick talking and then, the best part of the CD comes up. A heartbreaking blend of violins and acoustic guitars are played, beautifully cascading into each other and shifting to different dreamlike compositions. I wish it would last longer; it's very depressing when it ends. Afterwards, the next song begins without you noticing the track changed again. (I love it!) It begins with the same dark mood but a different outlook on it, and the chorus' music is a bit more upbeat (but the lyrics are still rather cynical) with some solid drumming and violins. The next song, "Remember and Forget" starts off discreetly AGAIN, which makes the album so much more epic and complete sounding. This song contains female singing, I think in Latin, throughout the entire duration, with some flute added into the mix also. This shifts into the title track (well the CD has two title tracks for some reason - the first and the last song.) This has the same melody as the title track, but there is singing added, and an extra, more upbeat part with weeping violins. This makes the album so well-rounded, perfect, and epic sounding.



This album is so inspiring and has triggered me to attempt to collect every last Sol Invictus album. If you buy just one folk cd, make it this. Even though I only have one other Sol Invictus CD so far, I doubt this can be surpassed, at least for a long time.



EDIT (3 years later): Now owning the whole discography, "In the Rain" has surpassed this as my favorite Sol Invictus, but this is still second :)"

Dark and ambient, sharp as "The Blade" & spiritually moving!

Karl D Steinkraus | USA | 06/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Blade" is one of Tony Wakeford's greatest solo achievements besides "King & Queen" since leaving death In June to give us a taste of the darkside. Folky, Ambient and spiritually moving, this is one of the best! If you are a fan of Current 93 this is for you!"