SolNegre - Anthems for the Grand Collapse

SolNegre is a doom metal band from the Balearic Islands, Spain. “Anthems for the Grand Collapse,” is their second full-length album; they have also released an EP.

Special note: This album officially has five songs and a runtime of just under 42 minutes. The 21 minute long EP "Annihilation of the Self,” released a couple years ago, serves as tracks six and seven on some editions. I will strictly be reviewing just the album itself but the EP is great as well so if you can get those songs too, they are worth the price.

I loved their debut album “The Spiral Labyrinth” and I'm happy to report that “Anthems for the Grand Collapse” is just as good. In terms of runtime, the fat of the debut has been trimmed– this album is about 25 minutes shorter. But it is quality not quantity and the band is able to have a more focused sound that feels like a true album experience from beginning to end, rather than a random collection of sounds.

The production and mix are both on point—the album doesn’t sound cavernous and trapped in its own sound. If anything, the production allows every instrument with enough room to bring their offerings to the table. The bass stands out well, which is exactly what doom needs. The lead guitars layer themselves into the music perfectly, acting as natural extension of the songs’ directions. 

The album begins with a sequel to a song on their previous album, “Song for the Inert Part I.” This second part is a lot more heavy in places but also very dreamy as well. The first part had a lot of clean guitar whereas this one focuses more on ethereal keys. Of course it still has slow, heavy riffs and death growls/screams. It is a very good opening song and I love the subtle textures it offers. The solos are beautiful, something that becomes a recurring element on the other songs as well.

The album offers more textures than dreamy soundscapes. “The Hollow Inside,” is filled with sinister riffs and keys. The steady rhythms and death growls make this song much more intense than the previous song, the band leaning heavier into the death metal side of the genre. But even with the sharp, tight drumming, the song still offers up the band’s brand of atmosphere. The later half of the song has a clean vocal passage that bridges the cap of the two halves with a clever approach to bass and drums. 

“For All That Could Have Been,” might just be my favorite on the album because it sounds so tragic. The long intro is another reason too, taking a full minute for the song to really open up. I can’t decide if I like the stark riffs more or the sad keys that sweep through the middle passage. Actually, I do know my favorite part: the catchy part after the clean vocals where the entire band just becomes one giant doom machine. The final few minutes are another big moment on the album: pure torture in a way only doom can do. 

“In the Stillness of the Womb,” is an emotionally stirring song that takes its time revealing its many details. I’m not sure who provides the clean vocals on this song but she sounds utterly fantastic—gentle and powerful, all at once. The last two minutes bring in the heavier elements, the vocals riding on top but simple but heavy instrumentation. Epic song. 

The final song is “A Path of Aloneness,” and the intro subtle and patiently seeps in, like a world building upon layers of itself as buildings stark to the skies. There is a sense of urgency, and failure, that exudes out from in between the notes that captures the true, captivating power of metal doom metal. After the six minute mark, the song gets introspective with a delicate concoction of keys and clean vocals—then the song ends with brutal growls.

SolNegre’s “Anthems for the Grand Collapse,” is another well-written journey into the heart of oblivion–and back again. This is a trip into the void that you absolutely must take—come on in, the darkness is fine. 

Rating: Excellent