Search - Solitude Aeturnus :: Adagio

Spread the gospel of SOLITUDE

e5150 | United States | 10/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Criminally underrated" describes S.A. perfectly. Any self-proclaimed "metalhead" who doesn't have at least one of their albums should be executed immediately. But then again, it's impossible to have just one of their albums, because when you hear one you want them all.
It's sad that they haven't achieved fame of Metallican proportions, since they so rightly deserve it. Solitude Aeturnus is second only to Candlemass (and that's a close second) when it comes to vitally important doom metal. They took the brilliant riffs of Candlemass and gave them texture, a new type of depth all their own, and this album is probably the best, most readily available example of their genius.
S.A.'s career has strangely paralleled that of early Candlemass, in that their first album is the benchmark which set a new standard for doom and will not be bettered, not even by Solitude itself. But their subsequent albums have never failed to deliver anything less than majestic doom of the highest caliber. Robert Lowe is one of the finest vocalists heavy metal in general has ever seen, and the riffs of John Perez--the band's most prolific writer--are undeniably some of the most godly ever put to tape.
I believe ADAGIO rates a 4.5 on this scale, and my only "complaint" if you want to call it that is regarding the John Perez-sung acoustic tune "The Fall". It throws off the driving, powerhouse rhythm that the album has maintained up to that point, and John's deep vocals, while not bad, are a shock to the system compared to Robert's golden throat.
ADAGIO features the finest production the band has yet seen, which is why I recommend this as an introduction to their awesomeness. This is heavy, this is DOOM, this is TRUE metal. This is what people should have been listening to all this time, instead of the tripe that passes for "metal" nowadays.
Solitude's recordings are becoming more few and far between due to the ignorance of the industry and metal "fans", and we are in danger of losing new music from this epic doom band. Do us all a favor and get yourself and your friends into them ASAP!!!"

Essential album. Essential band.

Kerry Ledbetter | Silvis, IL United States | 11/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have never heard Solitude Aeturnus, you don't know what you are missing. This is one of the most criminally underrated metal bands of all time. I didn't take them too seriously until recently and I'm extremely glad I did. I think most people assume (as I did) that they are just a Black Sabbath copy, but they go far beyond anything Iommi & Co ever accomplished - and not just because they have two guitarists. They definately have the heavy doom atmosphere of Sabbath, but they go quite a few steps heavier. Plenty of killer leads, heavy-as-cement riffs, vocals that can go from dark and gritty to high and soaring, and some awesome song writing that is unique and technical while still remaining melodic and fairly accessible. To top it all off, the production is killer. They keep the doomy feeling of the 70's era while still having the intensity and heaviness that only modern production is capable of. Basically, I can't imagine any metalhead listening to this without drooling.This album is 100% metal and absolutely essential. OK, so their vocalist doesn't bite the heads off of doves, but no band is perfect."