Srefa, is a female-fronted black metal band from the Holy Land of Israel, emerged in 2020. With an EP and single already under their belt, they unveiled their debut release, Solstice, on April 26th, 2024. This album, a treat for fans of Funeral Demon and Neriglissar, was brought to life through the collaboration of Satanath Records, and Australis Records (Chile).
Introduction:
Srefa, Solstice: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Solstice
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Srefa and their Solstice album.
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features distorted and fast riffs incorporating tremolo picking, eerie tones, tempos, and beastly bass riffs. The guitars create a wall of sound with their aggressive and fast-paced riffs, while the bass adds a sinister undertone to the music. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves female-fronted vocals, that are cold tormenting shrieks and harsh vocals that chill the blood and create fear. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Fast, powerful, and intense. The drum-work is crushing and heavy, featuring explosive blast beats and ritual patterns.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: Early Norwegian black metal and depressive/atmospheric black metal that creeps into the musical spectrum
The opening track of Srefa‘s album, Solstice, is Ensnared and Conquered. When the listener presses the play button, the listener is hit with in-your-face instrumental and vocal aggression that is fast and unpolished. This track sets the tone for the rest of the album, as the remaining seven pieces keep the listener trapped within the walls of the music, with lyrics and music that create a haunting atmosphere.
Solstice‘s lyrics mirror the music’s darkness, poetically and reflectively delving into themes of nature, death, and mental decay. They provoke thought and leave a profound impression on the listener, their impact lingering long after the music has ceased. These lyrics are not just words, but a profound exploration of the human condition, adding depth to the genuinely significant music.
Srefa‘s musical spectrum is a good mix of tempos, tones, moods, atmospheres, aggression, haunting and modern production. Depending on the listener, there may be a touch of melodic and early Norwegian black metal and depressive/atmospheric black metal that creeps into the musical spectrum, especially when the dark synths creep into the mix. This adds to the music’s ominous feel.
Solstice‘s album, Srefa, is a must-listen for aggressive and extreme metal fans. The band’s recording and production quality are consistently decisive and dark from the beginning to the end, showcasing its technical prowess and ability to create a dense and atmospheric sound. This album is a fruit of art, as every track is an intense and gripping journey that will satisfy any depressive, and atmospheric black metal lover.
Solstice‘s sound is reminiscent of two acts: the Israeli depressive black metal band Funeral Demon and the atmospheric black metal act Neriglissar.
Dark and haunting melodies and heavy riffs create a bleak atmosphere that perfectly complements the lyrical themes of death, despair, and nihilism.
Srefa might not be everyone’s cup of tea. For us, Srefa is a blend of depressive and atmospheric black metal. Still, if you want an aggressive, modern form of depressive/atmospheric and extreme metal with unconventional song structures, then Srefa is a band you should check out. The raw energy and power of the music is palpable, leaving the listener exhilarated and wanting more.
The album comes to an end with the last song, Relapse, We want to give a shoutout to Satanath Records for letting us review Srefa and their Solstice album. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
You’re Listening to “A Dream, Never Ending”
PlayThe Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Srefa and their Solstice album.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, Solstice by Srefa is a forbidden fruit of an art album, offering a deep and thought-provoking musical experience. The album’s unique sound, distinct from other Israeli bands, is a raw and modern form of extreme metal that’s both aggressive and mystical. The dark and reflective lyrics, accompanied by robust and haunting music and fruit of art devilmanship, leave a profound and lasting impression on the listener, underscoring the album’s significance and value.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
Dorin Hajon designed the artwork. For us, it captures the music perfectly
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Srefa, and their album Solstice.
This concludes the Srefa, Solstice review.
Track-Listing:
- Ensnared and Conquered
- A Dream, Never Ending
- The Unyielding Fear
- A Letter to Self
- Misdiagnosis
- The One I Could Have Been
- The Chase
- Relapse
Srefa is:
- Dorin Hajon – vocals
- David Nardya – guitars
- Matan Kedar – bass
- Assaf Kassimov – drums
