Much like most of the other branches of the ever-growing tree of heavy metal, doom has become synonymous with almost anything, and everything in between: funeral doom, stoner doom, epic doom and what have you... But the good ol' doom/death often seems to be cast aside, as if this cruder and creepier abomination was better left in the shadows. Then again, all the better, as that is indeed where this kind of purposefully unrefined sonic sorcery strives best...
While the Solothus guys have strong ties to death metal - with vocalist Kari now also growling for Sepulchral Curse, while Tami hammers his bass in the ranks of Gorephilia as well - and this is evident in their sound, it's the passion for doom metal where the band's origins lie. The dark epic majesty of masters like Candlemass, combined with the most crushing death metal dread á la Asphyx and Cianide, was what inspired Kari and guitarist Veli to cast the first Solothusian spells in the small Southwestern town of Parainen in 2007.
After going through a few line-up changes and relocating to the bigger cities of Turku and Helsinki, Solothus launched their debut full-length "Summoned from the Void" on Spain's esteemed Memento Mori imprint in 2013. While the album already proved them to be a force to be reckoned with, its successor "No King Reigns Eternal" digs the hole way deeper, expanding it to a devouring abyss of desolation. There's no light waiting at the bottom for these six songs, monstrous musical monuments ranging from 6 to nearly 11 minutes in length. Conjuring for instance Hooded Menace at its bleakest, and as suggested by the stunning cover artwork courtesy of Juanjo Castellano, this second coming focuses on excruciatingly crushing all possible hope in the heaviest way possible. Thou art doomed!
Media Praise
"No King Reigns Eternal is an artful combination of staggering heaviness, neck-snapping aggression, and cold, alabaster beauty. It generates an atmosphere of emotional collapse and physical decay, gets the blood pumping, too.The new album blends many of the same ingredients that were present in Summoned From the Void, yet the songwriting is even stronger, the wrenching melodies even more memorable, the guitar performances even more exceptional and varied, and the overall emotional impact of the album even more potent." - No Clean Singing
"SOLOTHUS approaches their sound in a brutal doom laden method. I am for one am glad they didn't go the Gothic way, which sometimes just feels comical almost. Deliberate, sluggish riffs paired with raspy thick vocals form a very gloomy soundscape. Sludge filled melodies moving at glacial pace set the tempo for this minimalist album. They do just about enough to keep the listening engrossed and enjoy the onslaught. Eerie, grim and macabre, the songs set the tone and the mood for one hell of a putrid, rank onslaught. The guitar solos in the album is a surprising revelation and its stands out loud and proud. The band intends to tour in the coming months and have a more or less stable line-up, which definitely helps, and also record. Must have for Epic Doom/death Metal fans." - Metal Temple
Formed In: 2007
Status: Active
Years Active: 2007-Present
LINE UP
Kari Kankaanpää - Vocals
Veli-Matti Karjalainen - Guitars
Sami Iivonen - Guitars & Backing Vocals
Juha Karjalainen - Drums
Tami Luukkonen - Bass
Location: Turku/Helsinki
Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Current Label: Doomentia Records
Booking/Press Contact: Solothus@gmail.com
Official Website: http://www.solothus.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolothusBandcap: https://solothus.bandcamp.com
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/solothus
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Solothus
Merch: http://solothus.bigcartel.com
No King Reigns Eternal ( Full-Length Album - 2016)
Released March 18, 2016
Recorded and Mixed by Harri Hyytiäinen at Rehearsalucifer Studios in 2015.
Mastered by Mikko Saastamoinen at Transistor Studios in 2015.
Cover Art by Juanjo Castellano.
Logo by Grave IX Design.
All songs/lyrics by Solothus.
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