Band:	Istapp
Album:	Sól Tér Sortna
Style:	Melodic black metal
Release date:	March 06, 2025
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Under Jökelisen
02. Nifelheim
03. Grýla
04. Storm Av Is
05. Frostdraken
06. Sól Tér Sortna
07. Ragnarök
08. Istronens Furste
09. Kallbrand
10. Vinterkrig

Winter hasn't finished with us just yet.

As you doubtless know, Scandinavia is a very cold part of the world, particularly in those dark winter months, and it also happens to be the birthplace of black metal as we know it today. This is where the Swedish meloblack band Istapp were formed 20 years ago back, and this is something they don't want us to forget. The band name Istapp translates to 'icicle', fitting for their style. Istapp pays homage to the old Norse gods in worshipping the eternal dark cold winter, a theme that's represented through a striking combination of ferocious meloblack and blackened folk.

Istapp have done a grand job so far at keeping the traditions of the great Swedish meloblack scene alive, but their fourth full-length offering Sól Tér Sortna not only carries on this legacy, but brings a lot more to the table. Sól Tér Sortna translates from Swedish to 'the sun turns black', fitting for a band that worships the dark. The style of music in this album represents everything the classic 90s meloblack scenes offered, bringing the harsh winters and ancient pagan traditions of their homeland to life in a way similar to Vinterland, Dissection, Immortal, and Windir; you'll hear influences from these 4 bands in particular throughout this album. However, a greater use of traditional folk elements has been woven into this latest release; furthermore, they've come a long way from where they started in terms of production, developing a crisp, refined, and modern mix that allows every element in each layer to shine equally.

The songs themselves aren't the most original, and in fact are relatively simple structurally, but they're highly effective in the sense of how each song is as epic and infectiously melodic as the next. The style of the guitar work is typical for meloblack, mainly consisting of ferocious melodic tremolos with sharp icy tones, capped off with wailing leads, but each guitar melody - whether riff, solo, or acoustic strings - is highly memorable and effective. It's as if Dissection's Nödtveidt has been resurrected by the Norse god of Winter himself, and that's a huge credit to the duelling guitarists Tizheruk and Morg.

The rhythm section is as relentless as you'd expect, resembling a furious glacial storm; founding member Fjalar pummels the drums emphatically, whether performing ritualistic beats, powerful drum rolls, or rapid blast beats, whilst Skari sends your blood rushing and adrenaline pumping with his powerful bass. Naturalistic sound effects and enchanting Windir-inspired keys backed by folkish chants, echoing howls, and haunting wails then add further layers to enhance the soundscapes for an even more epic and majestic listening experience. The vocals vary from passionate soaring clean-sung choruses courtesy of Fjalar, to the harsh demonic blackened shrieks of Gjallar.

What Istapp have ultimately succeeded in doing here is make the darkness and freezing temperatures of winter not only tolerable, but feel far more superior to the heat of the glowing summer sun. The wailing leads and sharp melodic riffs make those chilly winds feel like a mere breath of fresh air, while the harsh demonic shrieks are your welcoming guide through the bleak darkness of night. There's no denying that Sól Tér Sortna is the band's most accomplished offering to date, but it could even be a contender for meloblack album of 2025 for fans of this highly treasured subgenre in the extreme metal world. So many Scandinavian meloblack bands repeat what's already been attempted before, so it must take something truly special to break the endless cycle these days and stand out from the crowd, and I believe Istapp have crafted something special with Sól Tér Sortna; it'll even make you feel freezing cold in the midst of a scorching hot summer.