The Marble Factory, 12th February
Solstafir
Just like the Icelandic culture, from where the band emerged, has waved goodbye to the old gods & ushered in the new, Sólstafir have embraced transition.
From their roots steeped in black metal the band, who’s name translates to Sun Beams In Icelandic, have evolved a rich & complex sound over the past 25 plus years. Never afraid to push boundaries & bring about a soundscape that wouldn’t be out of place as a backdrop to any fantasy adventure film with epic, sprawling, landscape scenes.
With 7 studio albums to draw from the set was never going to be short of content. Added to which the average length of a individual Sólstafir track isn’t much short of ten minutes. Every song feeling like part of a cinematic score rather than a single, standalone piece of music.
The four Vikings, Aðalbjörn “Addi” Tryggvason (guitarist/singer),
Sæþór Maríus “Pjúddi” Sæþórsson (2nd guitarist), Svavar “Svabbi” Austmann (Bass) & Hallgrímur Jón “Grimsi” Hallgrímsson (Drums) set about building something epic the moment they strode on to the Marble Factory stage.
Just like the bands sound has built block by block over the years, adding non-metal elements such as strings & piano, so did their performance.
From a mysterious start in deep blue light & smoke to a fully lit & interactive experience by the end.
Addi admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect from the Bristol crowd at the start, but by the end the crowd were roaring with approval and Addi & the band were in full flow. Bassist Svavar “Svabbi” Austmann wielding his instrument like a long sword. Addi jumping off stage to tightrope walk the entire length of the pit barrier. Before dropping to the arena floor to fist bump every single person in the disabled section.
You’d be forgiven for expecting a Sólstafir live show to be a brooding atmosphere (which it was in parts) based on their live recordings, but this band were charming & engaging throughout. Thoroughly & richly deserving of the ovation they received at the end.
As a side note I would pay the admission fee alone just to watch some of the guitar work. Absolute masters of their craft.
📝📸 @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Katatonia
Lost in the mist…
The lights go out, the fog roles in thicker than James Herbert could have ever imagined for his horror novel. A emerald green hue replaces the black void. And the silhouette of Jonas Renkse, lead vocalist of Swedish metal band Katatonia cuts through the haze.
The self styled non conformists of metal certainly know how to make an entrance. To be fair after being at the top of Northern European rock & metal for over 30 years how could they not. The line up may have changed like a revolving door over the years. The sound ebed and flowed across the genres like a Viking long boat on the North Sea, but the constant is the live show Katatonia provide.
Pushing the sound & lighting of one of the best Bristol music venues to its max. And captivating and enthralling the packed crowd below them.
Brand new release “Sky Void Of Stars” is drawn upon heavily as you’d expect from the doom metal heads turned melodic rockers. “Austerity” (how apt) and “Colossal Shade” provide our openers in a show that was designed to test even the hardiest camera sensors strobe effectiveness. The band cutting incredible shapes into the mist and their darkness provides great contrast to the eye watering brilliance of the stage lighting.
The extensive back catalogue is drawn upon in the 75 min long set. With crowd rapturous renditions of “My Twin”, “Untrodden” and “Behind The Blood”. And we go waaaaay back with a sumptuous encore that concludes with “Evidence” from 2003’s “Viva Emptiness”.
The mood, stage lighting and darker lyrics in sharp contrast to the band who seem genuinely touched by the reception given by the packed crowd.
📸📝 @bristolnomad_gigphotography
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
