Live Review: Solstafir with Oranssi Pazuzu and Hamferd at the O2 Academy, Islington (24/11/2024)

Time for something a little different this Sunday night in London as the Icelandic post metal/rock band, Solstafir arrive in town.

Having just released their 8th full length studio album, on the 8th of November, titled “Hin helga kv​ö​l“, the once black metal, now more post rock with hints of black metal, band look to back that album up on their mammoth Nordic Descent tour that has seen them play across mainland Europe before landing in the UK, and before they head back for the remainder of their European dates. I have been a fan of Solstafir for a while but don’t think I have ever seen them live so am eager to put that right on this windy Sunday.

Before we get to the main event though, Solstafir have brought plenty of fire power along with them, backing up that tour title of Nordic Descent. First up, from the Faroe Islands, we have Hamferd. A death/doom band boasting six members and their own new album out earlier this year in “Men Gu​ð​s hond er sterk”. It’s nice to see they have a big crowd in ready for them to start. Whether those fans are here through intrigue, or they already know the band, noon was left disappointed. The death doom label doesn’t do them justice with plenty of post and gaze elements also in the mix. The way Hamferd jump between styles is impressive and exciting. Atmosphere rushes over us in waves as we move from soothing ethereal sounds to viciously heavy blackened metal.

When they go for it, they really go with the whole room vibrating from their bassy doom sounds while the vocalist stuns with a range that has to be experienced. Huge amounts of echo aside, the clean vocals soar beautifully and his harsh vocals demand attention. The music, the smoke and lights and the full stage gave a bit of an otherworldly vibe as we get hit with mind altering blend of doom, post metal, black metal and black gaze all packed into single songs.

I love the slight awkwardness too. The band don’t speak much, just once mumbling something to the crowd about where they have come from and the crowd, clearly having a great time, don’t know when to headbang, when to sway and when to stare. The band were really impressive though and still a bit of a mystery but one I will try to unravel now. They came, announced none of their songs, barely spoke, delivered an emotive masterclass in post music then, without a word, they left. Amazing.

Main support comes from Finland’s psychedelic black metal masters, Oranssi Pazuzu. A hip hop song intro might seem odd but hey, so are this band so it fits the utter madness that is about to come from the very popular band. The crowd has swelled massively and finding any space now is a challenge. It seems a lot of people have come out for Oranssi Pazuzu. The now swelling and packed crowd suggests people are intent and excited to see them. Where do I even go with this. My notes are as erratic as the band and included such helpful lines as “what the hell is going on” along with “I don;t like this” and then an even less helpful “I am getting into this”.

It’s noisy, effect laden and more than a little mad in a dissonant display of intensity and insanity. Dance beats, effects everywhere but not rhythmic. It’s chaotic, until it’s not. The guitars and drums kick in, joining the effects to create actual songs out of the maelstrom. The vocals are harsh but with lots of layers from backing vocals and delayed echo and there is real energy on stage and infecting the crowd. It’s really atmospheric and mind bending, feeling a bit like an otherworldly journey and the haze and the lights add to that too. Weird trancy style of music that makes you feel a little like you are in a futuristic night club, something out of Bladerunner perhaps.

Songs like Vasemman käden hierarkia and Valotus go down well with the crowd and when these kick in, there is some serious blackened heaviness on show. Credit to the venue too – the sound, for all bands, is impressive. Like mad carnival music at times, with black metal vocals added, I found it hard to fully focus in, and while I was impressed by the skill and talent of the band, my mind was often desperate for moments of structure where the ear piercing screeches and effects settled and drums and guitars stepped up.

They are a really interesting band and genuinely something truly unique but I’m gonna have to stay on the fence for a bit with these guys. I’m interested and intrigued but far from loving it. As we near the end of their hour long set, I noticed a bit more space around me too so not sure if others were losing interest, or maybe had just pushed forwards. Not that it mattered for the majority of the people there who clearly loved what they were doing. To me, that  was taking a load of random beats and noises and layering them cleverly, bringing them to you in ways that brought you to the edge of what you can take musically then, when you can’t take it anymore, a switch to an extreme black metal track over the top of those noises. Is it madness, or genius or maybe both?

So the main event with Solstafir and my first time seeing the band, I think. It’s a very chilled start, with their track, Náttfari, playing over the speakers. I also notice a lot more space around me now and what appears to have been a change of the guard. Firstly, it seems clear now that Oranssi Pazuzu were a big draw for this gig and not everyone has stayed to watch Solstafir. Also, I notice a lot of new faces and a much older crowd now presumably now filling with people who have come just for Solstafir. It’s still 80% full, so a good sized crowd for a Sunday, especially when you think that Solstafir only take to the stage at around 21:15 which, for those who have to get last train’s home is going to be a bit of a push.

Those that have come for, or stayed for Solstafir are treated to an impressive showing though from a band full of experience and you get a sense of that professionalism from the stage. Their atmospheric rocking cowboy style of music has a heavier punch live and the band look like they are having a blast on stage with lots of movement and dancing. The music sounds big and is really impactful delivering emotionally charged sounds that reach into your very being. The atmosphere is immersive and the crowd are moving with plenty of heads banging away, especially with the faster tracks. The band rattle through quality songs from across their vast catalogue starting with the powerful instrumental 78 Days in the Desert. We only get a few visits to their latest release, Hin Helga Kv​ö​l with Hún andar, Hin Helga Kvöl and Blakkrakki getting an airing.

Blakkrakki is immense live – what a track that is. Other powerful songs come in the shape of Svartir Sandar and Ótta in a gig that will last long in the memory. Frontman, Aðalbjörn “Addi” Tryggvason really works well with the crowd, leaning in to them, making eye contact and in the few short speeches given, making sure everyone feels part of the family and understand how grateful the band are to be here. That works both ways, with the crowd showing plenty of love and appreciation back to the band. Sadly, as Solstafir keep playing and it gets later and later, people have to leave and there is much more space appearing. It’s Sunday, trains end early and this gig, nor the venue appears to have accounted for that at all with a late start, long sets for support acts and a late finish.

That’s a bit of a shame, and I’m sure many people will have been gutted to have to shoot off a little early but for those that stayed, for those that experienced this, it was a case of watching experienced professionals delivering a masterclass in emotional atmospheric rock. As my first time seeing them, I was impressed – really impressed. They are a must see band I think for anyone with a love of intelligent music that still carries more than enough heaviness and weight but really speaks to your inner being and makes you feel mixtures of emotions throughout.

Overall, it was a really great night with a mix of styles that all brought a different take on atmospheric metal to London. Showcasing the immense array of talent coming from Nordic countries, as well as ingenuity and boundary smashing ideas, you have to admire the creativity and talent on show. From the post blackgaze sounds of Hamferd to the erratic insanity of Oranssi Pazuzu to the soul touching power of our Icelandic cowboys, it was a night that will live long in the memory.