Solace of Requiem

Considered a mix of technical death metal, black metal, and brutal death metal with most caveats the genre normally has to offer, including extreme vocals, the normal barrage of blast beats and abundant double bass drumming, as well as guitar-work with sweep picking and arpeggios. However, the band has also integrated the study of binaural audio into the structures of their songs, which gives them an augmented sound and odd compositional structure.{{cite web|title=5 Questions With Solace of Requiem|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/fl/5-Questions-With-Solace-of-Requiem.htm|publisher=About.com|date=}} This is not to say that they have changed the frequencies of their music, rather that they have applied this knowledge to compose highly poly-rhythmic structures within their songs. Both guitars are being hard panned to their own speaker respectively, so listening to only one speaker gives the impression of a different song as opposed to listening to the piece as a whole.{{cite web|title=Brutalism – Casting Ruin|url=http://brutalism.com/content/solace-of-requiem-casting-ruin|publisher=Brutalism.com|date=September 18, 2014}} The band also structures their music similarly to the way classical music was written, lending a neoclassical feel to their sound. They blend together technical instrumentation with a mix of things including classical passages, doom riffs, midi instruments, and an overall dark ambiance.

The lyrics have their basic roots in philosophy, typically very dark in essence. Themes include expressions of hatred, brutality, psychology, hopelessness, and secular minded philosophy based on scientific principles. The style is often poetic, and presented with rotating perspectives.{{cite web|title=Interview with Solace of Requiem – Lost In Chaos Mediazine|url=http://lostinchaoszine.blogspot.ro/2014/11/interview-with-solace-of-requiem-usa.html|publisher=Lost in Chaos|date=November 7, 2014}}

The initial lineup of Solace of Requiem (Jeff Sumrell, Chris Young, and Luke Downing) began under the moniker Sarcophagus when they were just teenagers in 1990. They took hiatus in 1993, and it wasn't until 2001 that they reunited under the name Solace of Requiem. In 2004 they recorded their first full length (self-titled) album{{cite web|title=Global Domination Interviews, Solace of Requiem – Jeff|url=http://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/solace-of-requiem-jeff|publisher=GlobalDomination.se|date=August 25, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110020409/http://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/solace-of-requiem-jeff|archive-date=November 10, 2011}} which featured the cover song "I Need You" by Grave (from their Soulless album), after permissions were granted by Century Media Records. The self titled album was recorded at Master Sound Studio in Virginia Beach, VA. The album attained international distribution in 2004 and a video was eventually produced for the song "Beyond Grace".{{cite web|title='Beyond Grace' Video Available|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-beyond-grace-video-available| date=March 5, 2006|publisher=Bravewords.com}} It was at this time that the band stopped playing exclusively in Virginia, and started booking tours which took them to other parts of the US.

Following the release of the self titled album, Solace of Requiem had plans to record new material which they had been working on all year. Considering their budget was limited, they decided to mail their self-titled album out to try and secure a record deal. This eventually lead to the band singing with German record label Ruptured Silence Records later in 2005.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Inks Deal With Ruptured Silence Records|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-inks-deal-with-ruptured-silence-records|date=December 19, 2005|publisher=Bravewords.com}} Luke Downing, the drummer at the time, decided he wanted to pursue another line of work full time, leaving Solace of Requiem to recruit a new drummer. They then hired session drummer Joe Walmer from Pennsylvania's Aletheian so they could begin working on their new album. Jeff, Chris, and Joe recorded Solace of Requiem's second full length album, Utopia Reborn at Worlds End Studio in January 2006 in Kall, Germany. Also appearing on Utopia Reborn (as a guest vocalist) would be Brett Hoffman{{cite web|title=Digital Steel – Utopia Reborn|url=http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.php?headpage=albumrevs&id=123|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626230915/http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.php?headpage=albumrevs&id=123|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 26, 2007|publisher=DigitalSteel.com}} most commonly known for his work with Malevolent Creation. Utopia Reborn would then be released later that year, garnering nonlocal and even international attention,{{cite web|title=Utopia Reborn – CD – Ruptured Silence Records – 2006|url=http://www.maelstromzine.com/ezine/review_iss50_3657.php?sid=pktogkhndmbea0iuhbmmc1kav5&page_rs=8|date=2006|publisher=Maelstromzine}}{{cite web|title=Utopia Reborn Review|url=http://www.metal.de/death-metal/review/solace-of-requiem/6554-utopia-reborn/|language=DE|publisher=Metal.de|date=August 29, 2006}} as well as features in prominent magazines of the time Metal Maniacs and Decibel.

Soon after the release of Utopia Reborn, Solace of Requiem decided it was best to part ways with Ruptured Silence Records.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Parts Ways With Ruptured Silence Records|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/solace-of-requiem-parts-ways-with-ruptured-silence-records/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 19, 2007}} During this period, Chris Young felt he could no longer continue on with the band.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Part Ways With Founding Guitarist|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-part-ways-with-founding-guitarist|publisher=Bravewords.com|date=July 9, 2006}} Joe Walmer's band Aletheian also received a record deal{{cite web|title=Aletheian Signs With Ironclad Recordings|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/aletheian-signs-with-ironclad-recordings/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 22, 2007}} which led him to pursue that project full time. Jeff Sumrell decided to continue on and planned an American tour, a video shoot for the song "Red Sea",{{cite web|title= Red Sea Video Available For Download|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-red-sea-video-available-for-download|publisher=Bravewords.com|date=January 16, 2007}} and a European tour. At this point drummer Dave Tedesco (NJ) was recruited, as well as guitarist Aaron Lott (MN). Lott only ended up doing the first tour and was then replaced by guitarist Jesse Bartlett (NY) for the video and the European tour. After the tour though, Bartlett left the band and Sumrell was forced to yet again find a guitarist, this time one who would be willing to record the new album he had been writing for some time. So in 2007, Chris Armijo (CA) joined Solace of Requiem and they began as a unit preparing for the studio.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Adds New Guitarist|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/solace-of-requiem-adds-new-guitarist/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=August 3, 2007}} The Great Awakening would be recorded later in 2007 with producer Andy Classen at Stage One Studio{{cite web|title=The Great Awakening|url=http://stage-one-studio.com/en/discography/217/solaceofrequiem-2010-thegreatawakening|publisher=Stage One Studio|date=2010}} in Germany, and the band did a three-week tour following its recording. They spent approximately two years looking for a proper label to release the album,{{cite web|title=Lords of Metal ezine – The Great Awakening|url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/reviews/view/id/17546|publisher=Lords of Metal|date=2010}} but after not receiving any adequate offers, they released The Great Awakening on their own in 2010.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Release The Great Awakening|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-release-the-great-awakening|publisher=Bravewords.com|date=November 19, 2010}} This album was a big changing point for the sound of the band. They transitioned from more of a mid-paced, melodic yet heavy sound, to a strictly tech-death sound performing at very high BPMs with a bit of a black metal influence. Though not receiving any help from a label, the band still managed to use its new sound and past resources to gain publicity and reach out to a new audience who met The Great Awakening with some high-quality reviews.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem – The Great Awakening :Last Rites|url=http://lastrit.es/reviews/5967/solace-of-requiem-the-great-awakening|publisher=Last Rites|date=December 2010}}{{cite web|title=The Great Awakening : Loucifer Speaks|url=http://louciferspeaks.com/2010/11/29/solace-of-requiem-the-great-awakening/|publisher=Loucifer Speaks|date=November 29, 2010}}

For the next few years the band would not record an album, though this did not stop them from touring every year. At this time period (2008), due to the new music being much more polyrhythmic, they hired a second guitar player named George Arguello (CA). Upon hiring George they travelled out to the midwest for a tour, and prepared for the winter when they would tour Europe again with their full lineup. In January the band then began the Only Death is For Nothing tour with Austria's Lost Dreams and Moshquito from Germany.{{cite web|title=Musicmight:: Artists:: Lost Dreams|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/austria/steinach/lost+dreams|publisher=Musicmight.com|date=2009}}{{cite web|title=Lost Dreams in Writing Mode|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lost-dreams-in-writing-mode/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 27, 2008}} In 2010, accompanying the release of The Great Awakening they toured with veteran Florida death metal act Resurrection, known as the Resurrected in Europe tour.{{cite web|title=Announce European Tour With Resurrection; New Album Delayed Until October|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-announce-european-tour-with-resurrection-new-album-delayed-until-october|publisher=Bravewords.com|date=June 22, 2010}} As 2011 came, George Arguello would quit performing live guitarist duties, leading Solace of Requiem to hire Richard Gulczynski (PA). Gulczynski was known as the touring bass player for Decapitated and is also currently a guitarist for Single Bullet Theory.{{cite web|title=Decapitated announce new bassist|url=http://lambgoat.com/news/6019/Decapitated-announce-new-bassist|publisher=Lambgoat.com|date=January 9, 2006}}{{cite web|title=New Bassist joins Decapitated on US Tour|url=https://www.earache.com/bands/decapitated/archive_news/decapitated.html|publisher=Earache|date=January 10, 2006}} The band then embarked on a 24 date European tour named the No End to Suffering tour, opening for Vomitory and Prostitute Disfigurement.{{cite web|title=Vomitory – European Tour With Prostitute Disfigurement, Solace Of Requiem|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=14365&page=&message_id=|publisher=Metalstorm.net|date=August 13, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Vomitory to play full European tour in October and November|url=http://metalshockfinland.com/2011/08/page/8/|publisher=Metalshockfinland.com|date=August 22, 2011}} They also toured for one week beforehand with German group Disbelief on the Believe in Nothing tour.

In 2012 Solace of Requiem stayed fairly stagnant, playing only a few shows. At this point they had been writing music and decided it was time to get back to the studio to record their fourth full length album, however Chris Armijo decided he would no longer be a part of the band. This left Jeff, Dave, and Richard alone to prepare heavily for the session that was to come and to focus on the sound they wanted to achieve. They decided to use Erik Rutan's Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida and hired Brian Elliott as the producer in February 2013. They titled the album Casting Ruin and allowed Brian to do the recording, mixing, and mastering. Later that year they embarked on a smaller European tour,{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem To Embark on Tour|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=96926|publisher=Metalunderground.com|date=October 29, 2013}} which marked the arrival of touring guitarist Kevin Heiderich to the lineup. After the tour they signed a record deal with ViciSolum Productions for the release of Casting Ruin. It was released publicly on August 29, 2014.{{cite web|title=Casting Ruin Detailed|url=http://bravewords.com/news/solace-of-requiem-casting-ruin-detailed|publisher=Bravewords.com|date=August 12, 2014}} The band also self-produced a music video for their track "Soiling The Fields of Putridity"{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem Releases Soiling The Fields of Putridity Video|url=http://metalmouth.net/2014/08/solace-of-requiem-release-soiling-the-fields-of-putridity-video/|publisher=Metalmouth.net|date=August 26, 2014}} which was released around the same time as the album. Critics familiar with the band considered Casting Ruin the bands finest work.{{cite web|title=Casting Ruin Review – Angry Metal Guy|url=http://www.angrymetalguy.com/solace-requiem-casting-ruin-review/|publisher=Angrymetalguy.com|date=September 12, 2014}}{{cite web|title=A NCS Album Premiere – Casting Ruin|url=http://www.nocleansinging.com/2014/08/27/an-ncs-album-premiere-solace-of-requiem-casting-ruin/#more-79389|publisher=Nocleansinging.com|date=August 27, 2014}} It was reviewed by the prominent metal webzine Metalsucks{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem's Casting Ruin is Wonderfully Brutal|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/09/30/solace-requiems-casting-ruin-wonderfully-brutal/|publisher=Metalsucks.com|date=September 30, 2014}} as well as featured in Zero Tolerance and Terrorizer magazines. Further down the road in 2014, the band embarked on a European tour as direct support of Ulcerate and Wormed.{{cite web|title=Solace of Requiem to tour with Ulcerate and Wormed|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=104438|publisher=Metalunderground.com|date=July 14, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Ulcerate, Wormed, Gigan, Solace of Requiem|url=http://www.metalhammer.it/concert.aspx/4212/ulcerate-wormed-gigan-solace-of-requiem/|language=it|publisher=Metal Hammer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150223012919/http://www.metalhammer.it/concert.aspx/4212/ulcerate-wormed-gigan-solace-of-requiem/|archive-date=2015-02-23}}

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• Jeff Sumrell – vocals, bass guitar, main composer (2001–present)
• Dave Tedesco – drums (2006–present)
• Richard Gulczynski – lead, rhythm guitars (2011–present)

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• Chris Young (2001–2006)
• Chris Armijo (2007–2011)

• Luke Downing (2001–2005)
• Joe Walmer (2005–2006)

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• Jesse Bartlett (2006)
• Aaron Lott (2006)
• George Arguello (2008–2011)
• Kevin Heiderich (2013–2014)

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{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Official website|www.solreq.com}}
• [http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Solace_of_Requiem/33183 Solace of Requiem Discography at Metal-Archives]

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Category:American death metal musical groups

Category:American technical death metal musical groups

Category:American blackened death metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2001

Category:American musical trios