Saturday 6 April 2019

Solar Halos - Coiled Light (Album Review)


Release date: April 12th 2019. Label: Cursed Tongue Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Coiled Light – Tracklisting

1.The Living Tide
2.Personal Levee
3.Ground the Fire
4.River of Grass
5.Conduit
6.Coiled Light
7.Nebulas

Members

John Crouch
Nora Rogers
Eddie Sanchez

Review

They say “Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder” and that can be said for Solar Halos and their epic new album – Coiled Light. This is the band’s first album in five years and one that will be released by the cool folks over at Cursed Tongue Records. I’m a huge fan of Solar Halos debut album which was released back in 2014 and on sadly missed record label Devouter Records. It ranked as one of my favourite albums of that year.

Solar Halos are a Psychedelic Doom Rock/Metal bands with elements of Heavy Sludge and Stoner Rock woven into their heavy sound. The band are influenced by a wide range of different bands across a different spectrum of musical genres. However Solar Halos still have a heavy and stylish Psychedelic edge of their own.

Opening song – The Living Tide – soon springs to life with a heavy pulsating psychedelic doomed out sound before Nora’s vocals appear which add a slightly caustic approach and offers a reflective Doom based vibe. The music moves comfortably at its own pace that soon gives way to a heavier style of Sludge/Noise Rock progressive riffs. The gloomy atmospherics show that Solar Halos are a different band compared to their debut album. As the band are more direct with their music.

Second song – Personal Levee – offers a more personal song from the band. As the lyrics are quite heartfelt and emotional in places. However, the music is an atmospheric and gloomy experience with the layers of Psychedelic and Spaced Out Doom Rock having a soulful groove to them and having a complex rhythm to them. The song is one of the standout tracks on the album and one that leaves you wanting more.

Third song - Ground The Fire – is one of the heaviest songs on the album with Solar Halos playing a more Sludge/Doom Metal driven sound. The song can be quite cold and distant in places but it shows how Solar Halos have added more emotional depth to their music since their debut album. Expect a nightmarish trip into the darker side of Solar Halos.

Fourth song - River Of Grass – opens with an ambient and drone based riff that soon expands to a heavier gloomy psychedelic sound. The song is perhaps the bleakest and heaviest song held on the album. The lyrics and vocals once again demand your full attention. The song ends with psychedelic and ambient drone sounds leading into the next song.

The other three songs on the album – Conduit, Coiled Light and Nebulas – carry on the heavy Space Rock theme that Solar Halos build their heavy music upon. The atmosphere can be quite intense especially on Coiled and Nebulas. The music is rich and quite varied compared to the first half of the album.

The production is first rate and gives Solar Halos music quite an epic feel especially with the heavier Sludge/Doom Metal parts appear. Coiled Light becomes more of a cinematic experience and that’s down to both the fantastic production and musicianship held on the album.

Coiled Light has quickly become one of my favourite albums this year and I’m not afraid to admit that the album will be in my Top Five Records of this year. It’s simply that good.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Niels at Cursed Tongue Records for the promo. Coiled Light will be available to buy digitally on April 12th 2019. The Vinyl will be released via Cursed Tongue Records in May 2019.