Review of Samael - Solar Soul

With Solar Soul, Samael offer a stylistic and conceptual continuation to the absolutely putrid Reign of Light. This is truly misguided and unbearable music by a band whose transition from savage black metal to industrial rock has been nothing short of painful to witness.

On Solar Soul, they run a total end-around everything that is good and decent about music and instead offer 11 tracks of mid-paced industrial hardly-rock comprised of imbecilic marches, uninspired melodies, asinine riffs, monotone vocals, and enough keyboards to make Liberace blush. These songs all sound similar to each other, and many exhibit many of the same short-comings and fatal flaws. However, a few tracks do manage to out-suck the rest. The title track and album opener features not only one of the most irksome vocal cadences I've ever heard, but also establishes the tone of subtraction by addition that permeates throughout the rest of Solar Soul. One thing I firmly believe is that boring riffs don't really get any better when they're embellished by a three-ring circus' worth of keyboard twinkling. "Valkyries' New Ride," with it's insipid chanting and brain-dead keyboard pounding, actually requires several spins for the listener to truly synthesize the depth of its futility. “Alliance” and “On the Rise,” some of the most painful listens on Solar Soul, speak to frontman Vorph's deep misconception that he can actually carry a song with his mid-range growls. He cannot.

Seriously. What the hell, Samael? Why are you making such terrible albums? I understand that maybe there is a market for this kind of music, but that doesn't excuse the stunning vividness of it's ineptitude. I understand the impending shit-storm that will result from this review. Because, if the Internet has taught me anything it's that just as sure there are folks that can crank one out to anthropomorphic porn inspired by Howard the Duck, there are people who don't think Samael has been a really disappointing band over the last few albums. I can't help that. I can only hope nobody else spends their hard-earned on this ... stuff.

Release Details

Samael

Solar Soul

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