Striborg - Solitude
Displeased Records

file under black/pagan metal

Roel F.: I was afraid it would come to this; the day would come that it was my turn to review a Striborg album. And here it is: ‘Solitude.’ I kind of smiled, knowing that this would be fun. I heard of Striborg before, and what I heard was of such a low quality that it was embarrassing. Everything about Striborg is true, kvlt, nekrö, etc: the front of the booklet has a black and white photo of a forest and Sin-Nanna is impeccably dressed in black metal uniform complete with cape, upside down cross and black beady eyes. And, of course, he does not do interviews. Heaven forbid that he is seen in his Hawaii swimming trunks, holding a cocktail with small umbrella.

However, I was somewhat surprised on hearing ‘Solitude.’ It is actually listenable. The riffs are still absurdly simple, repetitive and woolly, the vocals again have that annoying reverberation, and the sparse keys are still hackneyed, but the album does have a certain feeling to it. Sin-Nanna brings us (much too long) drawn-out three-or-four-or-five-riff formations that shift in tone, and boring ambient tracks. But as said, it is listenable. It is no longer a feeling of frustration and anger that Striborg brings out in people. On the whole, it sounds all very similar to Xasthur, Mutiilation and Burzum, but for once Striborg comes close to sounding comparable to these bands, without getting stuck at a Vlad Tepes level. The drums, which only support the guitar, have now more fillers and rolls to them (even though they are still played sloppily), some of the keys do not sound completely idiotic, and well, it does not sound as if an intellectually challenged clown was thrown into a rehearsal room any more. So, some headway has been made.

Still, Striborg does not offer much here. It is impossible to listen ‘Solitude’ in one go, because it is all too simple, and weighed down by a serious lack of diversity even though it sounds more accessible. Undoubtedly, this is going to sell anyway, as Striborg has quite the following. In any case, it is advisable to have a good listen first; chances are you will not like this.

Rating: 50/100 (details)

http://www.myspace.com/striborg