Solution .45 – For Aeons Past (2010) Review
YOUTUBEChristian Älvestam has to be the busiest man in the Swedish, melodic death metal scene. Most notably, he is the former front-man of Scar Symmetry. Other than that you can hear him on any of these projects: Incapacity, Solar Dawn, Torchbearer, Quest of Aidance, Miseration, Angel Blake, Carnalized, Unmoored, The Few Against Many, Jarawynja, Nuclear Blast Allstars, guest in Zonaria and guest on March Of A New Division. I personally recommend Miseration and Unmoored (not to mention Scar Symmetry).
I imagine most of you are familiar with Scar Symmetry. Most of Älvestam’s other projects have a similar sound and of them, Solution .45 might be the closest. In fact, if someone put me in a dark room and played this I would say, “Wait, didn’t Älvestam part with Scar Symmerty?” Then the album would continue and I would realize that though this sounds similar, it is very mellow in comparison.
Solution .45 plays it safe and doesn’t stray at all from the classic Swedish melodic death recipe of thick, modern-sounding guitars and a healthy mix of clean and harsh vocals. They are definitely softer than Scar Symmetry but the dynamics are nice. Clandestinity Now starts off slow then builds into a thick and melodic metal tune. Wait, this is easier than explaining:
As you can hear, the production is superb. Everything is crisp and clear and these days we expect it to be so. Solution .45 has always played a refined and “radio friendly” style of Swedish death metal.
My trouble with this album is that nothing really seems new and not much of it is terribly memorable. I might play this in mixed company when people are over just to have some background music, but I can’t see myself listening to this much (especially since Scar Symmetry‘s latest album is so much better). All in all this is solid material, it just doesn’t stick with me. It seems way too safe. If you are looking for some good melodic death metal with a similar sound try one of these bands first: Barren Earth, Miseration, Unmoored, Dawn of Tears, Embryo, Insomnium, Lunarsea, Katatonia, or even Scar Symmetry.
7 Comments
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10 Apr 2010, 11:44 am
"especially since Scar Symmetry’s latest album is so much better"
Are you referring to Dark Matter? Christian was not part of that album at all.
I listened to the whole album and yes from what I have listened to what's done has been done before
but has been done well.
I am a huge fan of his clean/harsh vocal mix in his songs.
However I am being bias I am big scar symmetry fan especially Christian Älvestam (yes I copy pasted the "A")
10 Apr 2010, 2:26 pm
lol.. on the copy and paste… Yeah… maybe I could make the article more clear about Christian not being in Scar Symmetry… And I really prefer Miseration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO6MfbGB8CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXcV4xus8-s
10 Apr 2010, 3:27 pm
Miseration is sounding good never heard of these guys.
Christian Death Metal huh. I don't find many good christian metal bands (besides extol and antestor[unblack metal? lol])
I really do enjoy the mix of harsh and clean I find it more musical and talented IMO.
I just noticed christian's vocals in this band, O.o wtf?
How have I not heard of this?
“The devil called, he wants his music back.”
10 Apr 2010, 6:12 pm
lol… there is some good Christian metal out there.. maybe we should start a thread… lol… Becoming the Archetype is christian… and their sound fits with this (though they are more progressive).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-37wtJeNzM
10 Apr 2010, 7:19 pm
call the thread entering the jesus and I have listened to becoming the archetype before there a pretty good band.
11 Apr 2010, 2:40 pm
vocals are amazing
11 Apr 2010, 4:41 pm
Oh man I haven't listened to this BTA album in a fucking while! Good stuff.
Crimson Moonlight, Lengsel and Schaliach are all pretty good christian metal too.
On topic: Sounds decent…nothing I'd bother with though. Love his freaking vocals however…man he's good.
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