Sólstafir
Encyclopedia
Sólstafir is an Iceland
ic metal band, formed in 1995. The band's name is the Icelandic word for crepuscular rays
.
In 1999 Sólstafir entered the studio to record their debut full-length album. By that time Halldór had left the band and in 1997 and 1998, respectively, Sólstafir had released two promos as a two piece. For the recording of the debut full-length album, Sólstafir had recruited Svavar Austmann as Halldór’s replacement. Although the recording sessions of “Í Blóði og Anda” had started in 1999, the album wasn’t released until 2002, due to delays and mishaps. In the meantime Sólstafir started playing live shows in Iceland, and for that had added a second guitar player, one Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson.
For the first time as a four piece, Sólstafir recorded a new demo in 2002, eventually releasing three songs as the EP entitled Black Death.
In 2004 the band began working on the follow-up to “Í Blóði og Anda” on their own with the help of a good friend. Although Sólstafir were establishing themselves in the European metal underground, the band found themselves without a record label. Thus the band decided to release three of the songs from the album as a limited edition promo to send around to labels. This and a gig in Denmark (the band’s first outside of Iceland) ensured the band a deal with Spinefarm Records
. Sólstafir released “Masterpiece of Bitterness” through Spinefarm in 2005.
In December 2007 the band traveled to Göteborg, Sweden to record their third full-length studio album. This third studio album, “Köld”, was released in early 2009.
In 2010, they played at Wacken Open Air
in Germany.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic metal band, formed in 1995. The band's name is the Icelandic word for crepuscular rays
Crepuscular rays
Crepuscular rays , in atmospheric optics, are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. These rays, which stream through gaps in clouds or between other objects, are columns of sunlit air separated by darker cloud-shadowed regions...
.
History
The band was formed by 3 friends, Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, Halldór Einarsson and Guðmundur Óli Pálmason in January 1995. Later that year, the band recorded its first demo tape, “Í Norðri”, and at the end of the year the band went to the studio again to record what was to become the second demo, “Til Valhallar”. “Til Valhallar” was never released as a demo though and four of the six songs were released as a MCD by View Beyond Records. It was later re-released in 2002 with all the six songs.In 1999 Sólstafir entered the studio to record their debut full-length album. By that time Halldór had left the band and in 1997 and 1998, respectively, Sólstafir had released two promos as a two piece. For the recording of the debut full-length album, Sólstafir had recruited Svavar Austmann as Halldór’s replacement. Although the recording sessions of “Í Blóði og Anda” had started in 1999, the album wasn’t released until 2002, due to delays and mishaps. In the meantime Sólstafir started playing live shows in Iceland, and for that had added a second guitar player, one Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson.
For the first time as a four piece, Sólstafir recorded a new demo in 2002, eventually releasing three songs as the EP entitled Black Death.
In 2004 the band began working on the follow-up to “Í Blóði og Anda” on their own with the help of a good friend. Although Sólstafir were establishing themselves in the European metal underground, the band found themselves without a record label. Thus the band decided to release three of the songs from the album as a limited edition promo to send around to labels. This and a gig in Denmark (the band’s first outside of Iceland) ensured the band a deal with Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records is a Finland-based record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. In 1999, a sub-label titled Spikefarm Records was started by Sami Tenetz from Thy Serpent...
. Sólstafir released “Masterpiece of Bitterness” through Spinefarm in 2005.
In December 2007 the band traveled to Göteborg, Sweden to record their third full-length studio album. This third studio album, “Köld”, was released in early 2009.
In 2010, they played at Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in Germany.
Current members
- Svavar "Svabbi" Austmann – bass
- Guðmundur Óli Pálmason – drums
- Sæþór Maríus "Pjúddi" Sæþórsson – guitar
- Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvason – guitar, vocals
Former members
- Halldór Einarsson – bass
- Sindre W. Aarsbog – guest vocals
- Kola Krauze - guest vocals
Albums
- Í Norðri (demo), 1995
- Til Valhallar (EP), 1996
- Í Blóði og AndaÍ Blóði og AndaÍ Blóði og Anda was the first full length album by Sólstafir. Shortly after its release Ars Metalli went under and the album became a rarity just a few months after its release.-Track listing:#Undir Jökli - 4:36...
, 2002 - Black Death (demo), 2002
- Black Death (EP), 2002
- Promo 2004 (demo), 2004
- Masterpiece of BitternessMasterpiece of BitternessMasterpiece of Bitterness is the second full length album by Icelandic band Sólstafir, as well as their debut album with Spinefarm Records.-Track listing:# I Myself the Visionary Head - 19:58# Nature Strutter - 9:26# Bloodsoaked Velvet - 5:21...
, 2005 (Spinefarm RecordsSpinefarm RecordsSpinefarm Records is a Finland-based record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. In 1999, a sub-label titled Spikefarm Records was started by Sami Tenetz from Thy Serpent...
) - KöldKöldKöld is the third album by the Icelandic band Sólstafir. It was released on January 21, 2009 through Spikefarm Records. The cover art was done by Guðmundur Óli Pálmason.-Track listing:# "78 Days in the Desert" – 8:34# "Köld" – 8:59...
, 2009 (Spikefarm Records) - Svartir Sandar, 2011 (Season of MistSeason of MistSeason of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
)