Solus     

Forgotten Visions
Le Crepuscule Du Soir 2011

Hungary's darkest export, Solus is a entity that emanates solitude and coldness.  After a nondescript intro the true heart of the album unfolds into sorrowful black metal in the same vein as early Burzum.  The title-track is a midtempo song that utilizes buzzing, fuzzed-out guitars and tortured vocals to create an atmosphere of isolation.  Mystical sounding synth comprise the instrumental Wind of Emptiness.  The notes slowly shift, mimicking the winds in the title of the song.  Nightspirit is up next.  Hypnotic riff repetition with a nod towards Transilvanian Hunger's monotone approach but with a more Burzum-esque drum beat.  The melodies within the song are mournful and hostile and mirror the vocals raspy disdain.  My favorite track though is Obsessed By Lost Memories.  A synth heavy composition that reminds me of Carpathian Forest's Last Sigh Of Nostalgia in its approach.  The song creeps along and the keyboards are like walls of frozen mist.  The tortured hollowness of the vocals give a sense of distance, somehow calling to your ears from the past.  And the eerie, nostalgic melodies in the guitars are as forlorn as they are epic.  I don't normally comment on packaging that much but the monochrome A4 sized digipack this disk comes in is a nice touch and is a perfect reflection of the natural and icy black metal that is held within.  Solus have crafted a work of organic, freezing black metal that should touch any dark soul who appreciates Burzum and early Carpathian Forest.  Forgotten Visions is true black metal art imbued with a feeling of hateful lamentation.