Solefald - Official Website
Pills Against The Ageless Ills |
Norway
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Review by Vladimir on January 8, 2023.
If there is anything I could say about Poland for sure, it’s that it has a very rich black metal scene, especially within the underground. Today’s example, which makes this scene even richer, is the band Dimidium Mei from Bytom. The band was inactive from 2011 but managed to successfully return 10 years later with two new members, Cyanide on drums and Colossus on guitar. Together they mark the band’s comeback with their second full-length album Devil's Tales, released on September 9th 2021 via the label Mara Productions. Let’s take a look at this album and see what devilish tales are to be told.
You’ll come across a plenty of primitive and aggressive black metal riffs with a bit of black/thrash moments here and there in the vein of early Nifelheim, blast beats, mid-tempo and double-bass drumming, d-beat ('Confessionless') and thrash metal beats as well ('I', 'It's A Sin', 'From The Darkness Into Abyss'), and dry harsh singing vocals with added low pitched demonic back vocals. Tracks have a very simple and straightforward approach when it comes to songwriting and their overall execution is handled with such intensity and spirit of oldschool 90’s black metal. The highlight of this album would be its strong and aggressive riffs, especially on the songs such as 'It's A Sin', 'Unforgettable', 'Confessionless', 'From The Darkness Into Abyss' and 'Funeral Night', with a solid sound production that doesn’t make the guitars and drums sound too thin. My only issue that I have with this album is the vocals, which sound a bit too dry and just aren’t loud enough for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, the vocal style is good and there is nothing wrong with it, the main problem is just that it could have been a little bit louder and better handled in the album’s mix and master without sounding as dry or thin, especially during moments when low pitched demonic vocals appear and completely bury the harsh singing. Overall, it’s just a minor issue that doesn’t ruin the album as a whole, and it’s definitely something that you can overlook without paying much attention.
To be honest, Devil's Tales doesn’t offer much, but it still gives plenty to enjoy, especially if you’re just a hardcore fan of oldschool 90’s black metal that isn’t on the lookout for anything stellar or groundbreaking. Dimidium Mei has made a very good comeback with their second full-length album and will hopefully uphold this strength for many more releases to come. If you’re a simple man looking for some black metal that you can enjoy, check out Dimidium Mei’s second album Devil’s Tales, I am sure you will find something to suit your taste.
Rating: 7.7 out of 10
679ViewsReview by Jack on July 8, 2002.
There is some great material from oddball duo, Lazare and Cornelius on “Pills Against the Ageless Ills”, the sort of good stuff one would lump into the same category as Finntroll for their mad-cap antics on giving black metal a new, fun and wholesome image.
So in essence Solefald at their grass roots are born and bred black metal. “Pills Against the Ageless Ills”, is a concept album about two fellows; Philosopher Fuck and Pornographer Cain, maybe two alter egos for Cornelius and Lazare... who knows? Philosopher Fuck and Pornographer Cain are two brothers suffering in the world because of a tragic destiny for which they must fulfill.
Musically, this album bounces around like it has been locked in an asylum for some twenty years. Can you imagine how you would feel if someone locked you away for twenty years for no good reason? Would you be pissed with the world, would you feel queer and maybe you would have a different take on life? Now imagine you have a black metal background like these two lads and had been locked away for those twenty years? “Pills Against the Ageless Ills” is the product of a warped mind and jilted transposition of how a person or persons see the world.
Vocally, Lazare and Cornelius both chew through the twisted lyrics of “Pills Against the Ageless Ills” with alter egos. We have a rather standard non-groundbreaking black rasp/roar, which is a little too guttural for normal black metal but still works quite compellingly; on the other hand we are treated to some goth-vocals that seem to be capped with a hint of a cropped English accent.
My problem with “Pills Against the Ageless Ills” is while it is all well and good to jump around the black metal stage like some infatuated teenage lass, it would help to have an ounce of clarity within their grasp. There are some wonderful moments on “Pills Against the Ageless Ills”, but I honestly get a headache every second song, this is coming from someone who goes through metal records everyday like an Eskimo goes through matches trying to light a fire in a blizzard.
So much is attempted on Solefald that after a while it becomes boring and actually quite irritating to listen to. Lots of people have claimed “Pills Against the Ageless Ills” to be an intelligent and thought provoking record, personally I believe this to be a load of crap, all Solefald come across to me is contrived and dull.
Bottom Line: I was, initially, really interested in hearing this album from Solefald, but unfortunately it shoots wide of the target. “Pills Against the Ageless Ills” is too vague and overly eclectic to be a real eye-opener.
Categorical Rating Breakdown
Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 4
Production: 6
Originality: 5
Overall: 3
Rating: 4.8 out of 10