Two years ago, during one of my mindless music-related surfing sessions on the net, I came across a very interesting interview with Cornelius Jakhelln - multi instrumentalist and sole member of the experimental Black/Thrash Metal outfit Sturmgeist. What I read in that interview, with respect the 'band's' second release "Uber", impressed me to such an extent that I immediately contacted Season Of Mist, asking them for a promo copy. That promo never managed to reach me and so I thought my chances of coming into contact with the music of this unique individual were limited. Well, that was before Peaceville records decided to re-issue "The Linear Scaffold", the debut album of Cornelius' first recording music project Solefald - a release that I was more than happy to receive.

Solefald have been characterised as an avant-garde Black Metal band by many of my colleagues in the past - a description that I found to be quite fitting based on what I was exposed to in this album. As a direct result of the great influence of Cradle of Filth's earliest material, Solefald's compositions are predominantly based on simple but catchy melodies, equally provided by both guitars and piano/keyboards. What makes this band stand out as an outfit of strong character and artistic integrity is not only their ability to successfully incorporate many elements, normally alien to Black Metal, in their music, but, more importantly, the way in which these elements are presented to the album's 'unsuspecting' audience.

I remember thinking that I knew where this album was 'heading' the first time I listened to the welcoming and straight forward melodies of the opening composition "Jernlov", a mistake that I am sure most of the people who are acquainted with "The Linear Scaffold" made long before me. Based on that, it is quite understandable that I felt my jaw drop the moment the beautiful progressive guitar melodies and brilliantly conceived hand clapping (!) session, featured in the main break of the following track "Philosophical Revolt", filled the room. In a blink of an eye, Solefald were transformed, from a band whose vocalist sounded like the twin brother of Danny Filth, to an outfit that deserved both my respect and my full attention - attention that was greatly rewarded, especially by the last four compositions of the album.

Don't get me wrong here: the more 'traditional' Symphonic Black Metal compositions such as "Red View" and "The Macho Vehicle", with their numerous rhythmical changes and catchy choruses, are indeed quite pleasing to one's ear, but it is the unique nature of songs like "Countryside Bohemians", "Tequila Sunrise" and "When the Moon is on the Wave" that helps them win the fight 'hands down'! "Countryside Bohemians" brings the best out of Burzum and Cradle of Filth in the way it combines atmosphere and rhythm, but even that great opus cannot compare with what the band has conceived in "Tequila Sunrise".

What starts as a melancholic piano theme, reminiscent of mid-era Anathema evolves in a breathtaking Epic theme comparable to the one featured in Ancient Rites' magnificent effort "Dim Carcosa" - one that is being supported by the narration of a poem in Norwegian, courtesy of Cornelius himself. Finally, one can only be left speechless by the band's ability to conceive a Black Metal musical piece worthy of supporting Lord Byron's beautiful poetry but that is exactly what was achieved in "When the Moon is on the Wave" - the most fitting end to a very impressive debut album.

Fans of typical Symphonic Black Metal may feel slightly intimidated by the band's liberal interpretation of the rules of the genre, but it is those of you who are interested in a more personal and experimental approach to music who are really going to appreciate "The Linear Scaffold". My experience listening to this eight track release has been thoroughly enjoyable to the point that I have no other option than to seek out their remaining five studio albums - hopefully they will be as surprising and impressive as this one!

****

Review by John Stefanis