Sol
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Many would consider Oprah Winfrey the figurehead of humanitarianism. If an antithesis to Winfrey’s warm-hearted selflessness exists, it might look like Emil Brahe. Brahe—sole member of Sol—is the anti-Winfrey. Brahe uses Sol as the perfect vehicle to carry his nihilistic, anti-human feelings. Sol’s Ván Records debut, Let There Be A Massacre, is a concept album devoted to the absolute eradication of humankind. Throughout the album, Brahe returns to the phrase that defines the album and graces its cover, “let there be a massacre.” The album’s insert depicts a medieval-style painting of humans jumping into the mouth of a bestial demon. Other artwork relates Danse Macabre scenes involving human skeletons. These morbid and misanthropic motifs move to the tune of death/doom metal.
Let There Be A Massacreis one of those clandestine metal albums with the potential for greatness in this often overlooked sub-genre. The sluggish pace, schizophrenic-inducing echoes of the guitar, massive sound, agonizing shrieks and gruesome growls are all elements past bands have used with great success. Equally important is Brahe’s symphonic experimentation. Nearly every type of metal has resorted to symphonic enhancements. More than twenty years have passed since groups like King Diamond and Celtic Frost introduced such instrumentation into their sound. One could certainly find such elements in hard rock music going back even further than those nefarious albums of the eighties, but Sol brings a novel approach. With only the help of Martin Jacobsen on the track, “The Insanity of Man,” Brahe is a one-man orchestra. In addition to playing the conventional rock instruments of bass, guitar, drums and providing vocals, one can hear Brahe playing uncharacteristic instruments such as clarinet, banjo, and accordion.
Sol’s odd experiment with traditional folk and classical instruments works because Brahe matches each instrument with his doom metal creation. Through slow, ringing notes, each instrument stays consistent with the droning resonance of the electric guitar and drawn out death vocals. Additionally, playing these instruments in minor scales and held notes adds to the music’s twisted mood. Sol is anything but ordinary, so it is only natural for Blistering to find out more about this enigmatic band. Emil Brahe gave Blistering the inside scoop on his unique doom metal vision.
Blistering.com: Please tell our readers about forming Sol.
Sol: Sol is an experiment for me. I always wanted to make some doom metal, so I made Sol. My first album was very crappy, but I got signed on my second album "Europa" on a Danish label. Fortunately, they couldn't afford to release it, so they asked Ván if they would sign me and they did. So here I am.
Blistering.com: Considering Sol consists of just one band member, you, how did you record “Let There Be A Massacre?”
Sol: I start out by recording the entire guitar and the bass to a click-track and then I record the drums, and in the end, the vocals. I record most of my music that way. It's a boring process, but it's the only way to do it if you want to do it yourself."
Blistering.com: Will Sol always be a one-man project? Would you consider enlisting other members for concerts or another album?
Sol: On Let There Be A Massacre, I got help from Martin Jacobsen on the track "The Inanity Of Man," and on my new album I Am Infinity I've got help from a lot of people. So no, Sol is always happy to work with different people. The reason I record my first albums alone was that I didn’t know anyone who played doom, so I had to do it myself.
Blistering.com: What other bands are you involved with?
Sol: I was involved with a old school death metal band called Human Garbage Disposal, but left it not so long ago to have time to Sol and my other projects. Then I'm the mastermind behind the project Acid Bird which plays misanthropic Polka Madness (laughs). I'm also working in a film production company where we make Stop Motion animated films.
Blistering.com: Tell our readers about I Am Infinity. When did you release this album?
Sol: I Am Infinity is not released yet. It'll probably by released inJanuary or February, depending on my label. The material on "I Am Infinity" is verydifferent from Let There Be A Massacre. It's faster and more brutal and a bit moredeath metal-ish, so there's something to look forward to. Besides, I've just finished a split with a funeral doom project called Grivf. The last thing is that my label, Ván and Deviant Records are planning to make a four-LP collection with a lot of the old Sol, and some new songs I've recorded just for the purpose of that release.
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