News : Premiere: Sólstafir unveil new videoclip for single, “Dagmál”

Photo: Falk Hagen Bernshausen

In 2014, Icelandic metallers Sólstafir released their acclaimed fifth studio album, Ótta. The band have now released a brand new music video for single, “Dagmál”, the fourth song off the album.

We here at Metal Obsession are very proud to present the Australian music video premiere for “Dagmál”! Directed by Magnús Atli Magnússon, and featuring live footage from their recent performances, check out the stellar video and song below.

Sólstafir comment on the video:

“The album cycle of ‘Ótta’ is coming to a close with a third and final video for the song, ‘Dagmál’. The live footage for this clip was shot over the course of 18 months of heavy touring. The video features our newest band member, Hallgrímur ‘Grimsi’ Hallgrímsson, who started filling in behind the kit in April 2015.

On further news, Season of Mist have proudly announced the re-signing of SÓLSTAFIR.

The band states:

“With our previous contract coming to an end, we have had plenty of great offers on the table for which we are grateful. Yet, why should we end a good thing? The entire team works brilliantly together and everyone involved decided that continuing is the logical step moving forward.”

Today also marks the start of the third week of SÓLSTAFIR recording their new album. Adalbjörn “Addi” Tryggvason comments on behalf of the band: “We are back here at Sundlaugin for the third time to record our seventh album. We feel right at home and after being locked up in songwriting mode for two months, it is a one of a kind feeling hearing the demos gaining life. We have fourteen songs recorded, including one cover version, but at the moment it’ is too early to tell what will end up on the album. The new album will definitely sound like SÓLSTAFIR and as always, there will be surprises too.”

The forthcoming full-length will be produced by Birgir Birgirsson (SIGUR RÓS, ALCEST) who also was responsible for Ótta. Working alongside Birgir, Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, CATHEDRAL, PARADISE LOST) has come to Iceland, bringing his unique style and experience into the production as a new element.

Jaime Gomez Arellano adds:

“I feel humbled to have the opportunity of working with SÓLSTAFIR. As a fan of the band for many years, I have been trying to work with them before and now it is finally happening. So far it has been a great, creative and positive experience. Working alongside Birgir in his beautiful Studio Sundlaugin has been very productive and fun. I am very excited about the new material.”

The new album is yet to be titled and will be mixed at Jaime’s Orgone Studios in the UK.

***

Tracklisting:

1. Lágnætti

2. Ótta

3. Rismál

4. Dagmál

5. Miðdegi

6. Nón

7. Miðaftann

8. Náttmál

Recording line-up 

Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: guitar, vocals

Guðmundur Óli Pálmason: drums

Svavar Austmann: bass

Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson: guitar

Current line-up 

Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: guitar, vocals

Svavar Austmann: bass

Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson: guitar

Ótta is out now via Nerve Gas / Season of Mist! Grab your copy from the link below.

Buy here

‘Ótta’, out now via Season of Mist

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”!

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