The Solitude finally breaks its silence.
Originally formed in 1993 under the name Solitude, but quickly shelved by Janne Parviainen (drums, Ensiferum, Satanic North, ex-Sinergy, ex-Waltari), this project—intended as a tribute to Candlemass—was revived for the first time in 2021, only to be disbanded two years later. In 2026, joined by Mika “Gas Lipstick” Karppinen (guitar, Hallatar, Kyyria, ex-HIM, ex-We Sell the Dead), Aleksi Parviainen (vocals, Malpractice), and Ville Pelkonen (bass), the band adopted its current identity, signed with Reaper Entertainment, and unveiled its debut album, The Sound of Absent Life.
The influence of the Swedish Doom Metal is already obvious on Ruins of the Fallen Stars, an opening track with a distinct vocal melancholy, accompanied by an epic, haunting rhythm section that imposes a rather slow pace, creating a heavy atmosphere. The solo creates a contrast with the rest of the track, which eventually leads into Deny the Sun and its palpable oppression, allowing the vocalist greater freedom, shifting between moments of intense intensity and others that are almost too gentle. The band delivers a burst of energy with Gateway to Hell, a jagged track that strangely calms down with the arrival of the solo before regaining its momentum, notably with that long final vocal passage; then Beneath the Fallen Leaves allows us a moment of respite before finally returning to its haunting sounds. The arrival of the vocals makes the track even heavier, as does the mysterious lead section, then a sense of lethargy settles in once again with Cry for the Dark One, a numbing composition that takes a slightly more somber turn, yet also manages to shine brighter at times. Requiem features some sharper heavy accents as well as imposing, almost theatrical tones—or, conversely, quite soft ones with the backing vocals—and then Evil Needs Release introduces a fairly groovy bass line that clearly stands out from the mix to take on a much more prominent role. Once again, we note the singer’s prowess, as he perfectly guides and animates the riffs, while also slipping in a few Candlemass references (“seven silver keys”!), whereas the rhythm section becomes far more ferocious on He Who Prevails” creating a contrast with Aleksi’s almost plaintive vocals. Back to a more somber mood on Bride of Misery, where the choruses are particularly intense and once again demonstrate the band’s attachment to its roots, followed by the title track The Sound of Absent Life, which closes the album with sweeping, intoxicating melodies and harmonics that linger in the mind.
Although its release was postponed twice, The Solitude is the perfect tribute to Candlemass, which made me rediscover that unique sound. Far from being a mere copy-paste job, The Sound of Absent Life brings a somber freshness to Doom!
90/100