''Solace'' is the first full-length

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by the Norwegian metal band

Lengsel Lengsel was a progressive black metal band that formed in 1994 in Norway. They released one album, called ''Solace'', on Endtime Productions in 2000, which was subsequently licensed to Solid State Records for an American release. The second alb ...

. ''Solace'' initially was released on Endtime Productions as a digipak edition in 2000. Around this time the vocalist and guitarist was also a bass player for fellow Norwegian band

Extol Extol are a Christian metal band from Bekkestua, Norway that was formed in 1993. The band is known for playing a variety of different styles of heavy metal music, metal which include progressive metal, death metal, black metal and thrash metal. ...

, who had at the time become an immensely popular band on the American label

Tooth and Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Underoat ...

' imprint

Solid State Records Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...

. Label owner Brandon Ebel licensed ''Solace'' for Solid State, marketing it with stickers on the album cover stating that it includes members of Extol. The album was also licensed for the German label Black Sun Records.

Sound and themes

Sonically, the album emphasizes on the melodic Scandinavian school of

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

, but with a more progressive edge. The vocals are not typical for black metal, taking a more mid-range rasp rather than guttural shrieks or growls, balancing it with occasional clean vocals. The band makes frequent use of odd

time signature The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...

s and incorporates sampling and non-metal instrumentation such as keyboards and piano. The lyrics deal with themes of longing, depression, and poetic ponderings on spiritual struggles.

Reception

According to

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, the album was "critically acclaimed".

Track listing

#"Solace" - 1:04 #"Revival" - 6:15 #"Opaque" - 4:16 #"Hours" - 7:05 #"Coat of Arms" - 5:58 #"Stille Dualisme" - 5:47 #"The World Monotone" - 6:20 #"Avmakt" - 6:34

Production credits

* Recorded at Endless Studios by

. * Executive producer: Samuel Durlig. * Produced by Lengsel. * Engineered by Tore Ylwisaker. * Mixed at Fagerborg Studio by Børge Finstad, Tore Ylwisaker and Lengsel, track #4 mixed at Endless. * Art direction by Durling, cover painting by Marie Sveen Sthaal, photos by Wreland. * All keyboards and acoustic guitars recorded by Ole Halvard Sveen.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solace (Lengsel Album) Lengsel albums 2000 albums Solid State Records albums