Solfatare - Asservis par l'espoir (2025)

Unleashing a savage debut full length release, today we have Belgium’s Solfatare with “Asservis par l'espoir”. Featuring six tracks and over 40 minutes of crushing Black Metal, this release showcases that there are still bands pushing the limits of the genre and crafting releases that do not sound exactly like most. With a ferocious take on the genre and the musicianship to back this up, this release is as intense and fierce as they come.

Starting with the blistering “Des monarques anhédoniques” we get that crispy Mgła-esque guitar driven style, but with some sinister twists, creating a very haunting experience. The harsh vocals masterfully add that extra level of desperation and aural abuse that songs like “D'hommes et d'isoptères” and “Du deuil affairé” need to be pushed over the edge. There is a certain intoxicating nature to the sneaky melodic undertones of the guitar work that makes them more effective.

Far from linear, the band delivers some crafty and playful tracks like “Ozymandias” and its intricate tempo changes. The band has mastered the ability to go from sinister and atmospheric, to downright vicious and pouncing on the listener’s aural experience. With most tracks over six minutes long, you can hear that these songs are well polished and they are allowed to grow organically, like on “Sous des cieux absents” and the closer “Quand ton cerveau te surine le crâne”.

Overall, “Asservis par l'espoir” showcases the debut release of a very well polished and vicious band that worked on their craft for a few years before this album. Solfatare perfectly delivers modern Black Metal with a very balanced approach and their own unique take on the genre. While having some familiar influences, this release delivers waves of crafty musicianship and a wide variety of tempo changes that will keep even the most demanding fans of the genre at the edge of their seat.

Label: Signal Rex

Release: May 2nd, 2025

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Belgium