SÓLSTAFIR have announced a string of European live-dates this autumn. The Icelandic heathen hearts will embark on their journey with a visit to their Irish brothers in spirit in Cork, Ireland at Cyprus Avenue on October 28th and continue to amaze audiences througout eight countries until their final show in Innsbruck, Austria at the Weekender-Club on November 22nd.
28 Oct 14 Cork (IE ) Cyprus Avenue
29 Oct 14 Dublin (IE) Voodoo Lounge
30 Oct 14 Glasgow (UK) Audio
31 Oct 14 London (UK) The Dome
01 Nov 14 Leeds (UK) Damnation Festival
04 Nov 14 Colmar (FR) Grillen
05 Nov 14 Luzern (CH) Schuur
06 Nov 14 München (DE) Strom
07 Nov 14 Stuttgart (DE) 1210
08 Nov 14 Frankfurt (DE) Nachtleben
09 Nov 14 Köln (DE) Werkstatt
10 Nov 14 Antwerp (BE) Trix
11 Nov 14 Rotterdam (NL) Baroeg
12 Nov 14 Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje
13 Nov 14 Bielefeld (DE) Forum
14 Nov 14 Berlin (DE) K17
15 Nov 14 Wangels (DE) Weißenhäuser Strand (Metal Hammer Paradise)
17 Nov 14 Warszawa (PL) Hydrozagadka
18 Nov 14 Wien (AT) Viper Room
19 Nov 14 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
21 Nov 14 Graz (AT) Explosiv
22 Nov 14 Innsbruck (AT) Weekender Club
SÓLSTAFIR have furthermore confirmed additional festival shows:
09 Jul 14 Neskaupsstaður (IS) Eistnaflug (Special pre-festival show)
10 Jul 14 Neskaupsstaður (IS) Eistnaflug
07 Aug 14 Schlotheim (DE) Party.San Open Air
09 Aug 14 Leeuwarden (NL) Into the Grave
SÓLSTAFIR will tour in support of their highly anticipated follow-up to 2011’s heavily praised double album ‘Svartir Sandar’. Their fifth full-length ‘Ótta’ has been scheduled for release on August 29th and is now available for pre-order from the Season of Mist shop.
SÓLSTAFIR have already unveiled the amazing cover art by Icleandic star photographer RAX aka Ragnar Axelsson and tracklist for ‘Ótta’, which can be viewed below:
1. Lágnætti
2. Ótta
3. Rismál
4. Dagmál
5. Miðdegi
6. Nón
7. Miðaftann
8. Náttmál
SÓLSTAFIR are different. Their unique blend of metal with beautiful melodies, psychedelic moments and a strong undercurrent of classic / hard rock comes as varied and at times appealingly bizarre as the landscapes of their native Iceland. Their fifth full-length „Ótta” is the logical continuation of the musical course this four-piece adopted on the highly acclaimed forerunner „Svartir Sandar” (2011). Expect the unexpected, such as seduction by subtle strings or a hypnotic banjo. None of this was apparent when SÓLSTAFIR released their album debut „Í Blóði og Anda”, which translates as ‘In Blood and Spirit’ in 2002. Instead of today’s Icelandic gravel throated siren chants, frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason spit forth vitriolic crust-like vocals and the ripping guitars were clearly black metal inspired. Yet the band was as clearly identifiable back then as now and along their way with the next albums „Masterpiece of Bitterness” (2005) and „Köld” (2009) introducing new elements in a continuous evolution. SÓLSTAFIR‘s music is as much the product of Arctic blizzards as of red hot volcanic magma, erupting geysers, lush green pastures, and salty waves. With „Ótta” the Icelanders touch something ancient and timeless, while defying easy categorisation. This album needs to be heard again and again, to peel back layers of details, each different and yet always revealing the same: great songs – all of them. The song titles of „Ótta” form a concept based on an old Icelandic system of time keeping similar to the monastic hours called „Eykt” („eight”). The 24 hour day was divided into 8 parts of 3 hours each. The album starts at midnight, the beginning of „Lágnætti” („low night”), continues through each Eyktir of the day and ends with „Náttmál” („night time”) from 21:00 to 0:00. This form of time keeping is more open than the relentless ticking of modern times, where each second is made to count, which turns humanity into cocks of the corporate clockwork. Now SÓLSTAFIR give you the antidote. Just lean back, close your eyes, take your time and lose yourself in this masterpiece called „Ótta”!
Line-up
Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: guitar, vocals
Guðmundur Óli Pálmason: drums
Svavar Austmann: bass
Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson: guitar