Sólstafir

Sólstafir was formed in 1995 by guitarist/singer Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, bassist Halldór Einarsson, and drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason.{{cite web |last1=Monger |first1=James Christopher |title=Solstafir: Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/solstafir-mn0001528186/biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 February 2019}} The band's name is the Icelandic word for sun beams (crepuscular rays).{{cite web |title=Solstafir |url=http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2921 |publisher=Prog Archives |access-date=12 February 2019}} They soon recorded the demos Í Norðri and Til Valhallar.{{cite web |title=Sólstafir: Discography |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/S%C3%B3lstafir/3213 |website=Encyclopedia Metallum |access-date=12 February 2019}} Halldór then left the band, and Aðalbjörn and Guðmundur recorded a promo tape as a duo in 1997.

During this period, Svavar Austmann joined as the new bassist and the band began recording their debut full-length album, Í Blóði og Anda. The album was not released until 2002 due to various recording delays and label disputes. Shortly after that album was completed, second guitarist Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson joined the band and made his debut on the 2002 demo Black Death.

After shopping around a three-track demo of new songs, Sólstafir signed with Spinefarm Records in 2005.{{cite web |title=Sólstafir – Original Rockers |url=https://icelandmusic.is/news/solstafir-original-rockers/ |publisher=Iceland Music |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428210148/https://icelandmusic.is/news/solstafir-original-rockers/ |url-status=dead }} Their second album Masterpiece of Bitterness was released by Spinefarm later that year. The album received positive reviews, with Metal Storm stating "the perfect mix of non-Metal elements with metal ones makes it a necessary album for any Metalhead looking for something that breaks the mold of pre-established genres."{{cite web |title=Sólstafir - Masterpiece Of Bitterness review |url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=2752 |publisher=Metal Storm |access-date=12 February 2019}}

Their third album Köld was recorded in Sweden and released in 2009.{{cite web |title=Interview: Sólstafir |date=14 March 2009 |url=http://en.rumzine.com/solstafir-2/ |publisher=R.U.M.zine |access-date=12 February 2019 |format=14 March 2009}} Reviewers compared the band's sound to Enslaved and Neurosis, among others, while noting their unique post-black metal sound.{{cite web |title=Sólstafir - Köld |url=https://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/5026 |publisher=Metal Reviews |access-date=12 February 2019}} The album was also noted for its addition of atmospheric passages. Sólstafir began to tour Europe regularly in 2010 and made their first of many open-air appearances at the Roskilde Festival that year.{{cite web |last1=Chirulescu |first1=Andrea |title=SOLSTAFIR - We are Fucking Bastards |url=https://eternal-terror.com/articles/index.php?id=954&type=B |website=Eternal Terror |access-date=12 February 2019 |date=14 May 2012 |archive-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005851/https://eternal-terror.com/articles/index.php?id=954&type=B |url-status=dead }}

Sólstafir's fourth full-length album, Svartir Sandar, was released by Season of Mist in 2011. The song "Fjara"{{Cite news|url=https://www.icelandreview.com/news/video-icelandic-highland-coffin-popular-youtube/|title=Video: Icelandic Highland Coffin Popular on YouTube|date=26 July 2012|work=Iceland Review}} remained in the 2013 list of Iceland's top 100 songs of 20 years.{{cite web|url=http://x977.visir.is/x977top100/|title=100 vinsælustu lög X977 í 20 ár|website=Vísir – x97.7|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529190941/http://x977.visir.is/x977top100/|url-status=dead}} This album signaled Sólstafir's retreat from black metal and move toward experimental atmospherics of the type practiced by fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós.{{cite web |last1=Kantor |first1=Konrad |title=Sólstafir – Svartir Sandar Review |url=https://yourlastrites.com/2012/01/31/solstafir-svartir-sandar-review/ |website=Last Rites |access-date=12 February 2019 |date=31 January 2012}}

Their fifth album Ótta was released by Season of Mist in 2014, and was noted for its additional experimental elements like strings and piano.{{cite web |last1=Selzer |first1=Jonathan |title=Solstafir: The Path Less Travelled |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/solstafir-the-path-less-travelled |publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=12 February 2019 |date=7 July 2014}} Three official music videos were released and the band performed Iceland's national television channel, RÚV's Stúdio Á.{{cite web|url=https://www.ruv.is/frett/solstafir-dagmal |title=SцЁlstafir - Dagmц║l | Rц V |website=Ruv.is |date=6 November 2014 |access-date=13 March 2020}}

In January 2015, the band announced that longtime drummer Guðmundur Óli Pálmason had left the band for "personal reasons". Guðmundur replied immediately via the band's Twitter account, explaining that he had been "stonewalled by ex-bandmates" and forced out of the band by Aðalbjörn Tryggvason. Guðmundur was replaced by Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson.

After his departure from the band Guðmundur formed post metal band Katla.

Sólstafir released their sixth full-length album, Berdreyminn, in May 2017 on Season of Mist.[https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/bmenjd/solstafirs-berdreyminn-exposes-the-dark-side-of-utopia Solstafir's 'Berdreyminn' Exposes the Dark Side of Utopia] Upon its release Berdreyminn entered international charts, mostly top 50, across Europe.{{cite web|url=https://darkartconspiracy.com/2017/06/10/solstafir-enter-the-international-album-charts-with-berdreyminn/|title=Sólstafir Etner The International Album Charts With 'Berdreyminn'|date=10 June 2017|website=Dark Art Conspiracy}}

On 6 November 2020, Sólstafir released their seventh studio album, Endless Twilight of Codependent Love.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solstafir-reveals-new-album-details-livestreams-new-single|title=SÓLSTAFIR Reveals New Album Details; Livestreams New Single - BraveWords|publisher=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=5 August 2020|date=5 August 2020}}

File:Solstafir, Barge to Hell 2012.jpg

• Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvason – guitar, vocals {{small|(1995–present)}}
• Svavar "Svabbi" Austmann – bass {{small|(1999–present)}}
• Sæþór Maríus "Pjúddi" Sæþórsson – guitar {{small|(2002–present)}}
• Hallgrímur Jón "Grimsi" Hallgrímsson – drums {{small|(2015–present, on touring hiatus 2023–2024)}}, backing vocals {{small|(2020–present)}}

• Halldór Einarsson – bass {{small|(1995–1997)}}
• Guðmundur Óli Pálmason – drums {{small|(1995–2015)}}

• Ari "Sneakers/Strigaskór" Steinarsson – drums {{small|(2015, 2023–2024)}}
• Kristján Einar Guðmundsson – drums {{small|(2024)}}

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• Í Blóði og Anda, 2002 (Ars Metalli)
• Masterpiece of Bitterness, 2005 (Spinefarm Records)
• Köld, 2009 (Spinefarm Records)
• Svartir Sandar, 2011 (Season of Mist){{cite web |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=70570 |title=Sólstafir announces new album Svartir Sandar details |work=Metal Underground |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=15 October 2016 }}
• Ótta, 2014 (Season of Mist)
• Berdreyminn, 2017 (Season of Mist)
• Endless Twilight of Codependent Love, 2020 (Season of Mist){{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solstafir-reveals-new-album-details-livestreams-new-single|title=SÓLSTAFIR Reveals New Album Details; Livestreams New Single - BraveWords|publisher=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=5 August 2020|date=5 August 2020}}
• Hin Helga Kvöl, 2024 (Century Media){{cite web|author=Keith Clement|url=https://mhf-mag.com/news/solstafir-release-hun-andar-from-hin-helga-kvol/|title=SÓLSTAFIR – Release "Hún andar" from "Hin helga kvöl"|magazine=Metalheads Forever Magazine|access-date=9 August 2024|date=7 August 2024}}

• Til Valhallar (EP), 1996
• Black Death (EP), 2002
• Ótta (Radio Edit) + Til Valhallar (EP), 2014
• Ótta Sampler EP / Bonus: Live at Hellfest 2014 (EP), 2014
• Tilberi (EP), 2016
• Silfur-Refur (EP), 2017

• Í Norðri (demo), 1995
• Promo Tape September 1997 (demo), 1997
• Black Death (demo), 2001
• Promo 2004 (demo), 2004

• 2011: "Fjara"
• 2012: "Æra"
• 2013: "Þín orð"
• 2014: "Ótta"
• 2024: "Hin Helga Kvöl"
• 2024: "Hún andar"

• "Fire & Ice - An Icelandic Metal Compilation" (Compilation), 1997
• "Fjara/Runaway Train" (Split with Legend), 2014

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Metal Archives|3213}}
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{{Sólstafir}}

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Category:Icelandic black metal musical groups

Category:Icelandic post-rock groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1994

Category:Icelandic musical quartets

Category:Viking metal musical groups

Category:Post-metal musical groups

Category:Season of Mist artists