Katla. - Móðurástin

Lived up to my expectations, well worth it.

What is this, what is it? Solstafir or bastard son? clone maybe? I heard some BM elements, yes post rock, but more metal orianated as Solstafir latest album IMO.

This album is really pleasing, and it keeps getting more interesting as it goes along. It starts off kind of doomy with the opening track, then sounds a lot like Solstafir/Kontinuum/that Icelandic post-rock sound, and then after the 4th track it gets way darker, more progressive, aggressive, and more metal in general. After one listen this is one of the best albums I've heard this year, but to be fair it didn't have much competition. I think it quickly and easily tops Solstafir's Berdeyminn, although I did quite enjoy that album as well.

This might not be for everyone, but I will be listening through it a lot in the coming months. Hyldýpi and Nátthagi are really nice. Starting with Hreggur things get darker and weird in a good way. Dulsmál was a wonderful mix of both elements and the most entrancing song I've listened to in at least a couple years. The contrasting halves of this album make for two rather enjoyable sides of the same coin. Altogether this makes for an album that I'd recommend to anyone who likes this kind of stuff. I couldn't have asked for a better debut.

I don't know if it's 100% fair to compare this to Solstafir, as I feel like that band has a lighter, more wistful and off-kilter, almost 'Nordic country' kinda vibe to their music (or at least what I've heard from them, namely the last 3 albums), whilst I feel like this band is a bit more musically direct, and is notably darker, giving off a vibe closer to Skuggsja, particularly on later songs. However, for what it's worth, this is way more up my street than anything Solstafir have ever put out, I like it a lot.