The new band from former Scar Symmetry and current Miseration frontman Christian Alvestam is called Solution 45, and it also includes guitarists Jani Stefanovic (Miseration and Essence Of Sorrow) & Tom Gardiner (Hateform), bassist Anders Edlund (Angel Blake), and drummer Rolf Pilve (Miseration, Essence Of Sorrow). Mikko Härkin played keyboards on the album, and Dark Tranquility singer Mikael Stanne wrote most of the lyrics and contributed some vocals. The band has been in existence since 2007, but finally became a reality in 2008 after Alvestam left Scar Symmetry. For Aeons Past is the fruit of their labor, and is out now on AFM Records, but according to the bands Wikipedia page it seems that founder Stefanovic has left the band, and has been replaced by Torchbearer guitarist Patrik Gardberg.
Fans of Scar Symmetry, as well as Soilwork and Mercenary, will find much to like here on For Aeons Past. Alvestam's mix of soaring clean vocals and aggressive death metal growls provide plenty of drama as the band churn out one hot metal track after another. Ripping yet catchy progressive extreme metal tracks such as "On Embered Fields Adust" and "The Close Beyond" have just the right amount of blazing guitar and keyboard solos, intricate rhythms, and varied vocals to please the extreme as well as progressive crowd. For those into the more melodic fare, be sure to check out Christian's emotional delivery on the symphonic "Into Shadow", as well as the addicting "Through Night-Kingdomed Gates" and the gorgeous "Lethean Tears". The latter is one of the CDs most remarkable tracks, a real emotional number which lets Alvastam show off his vocal talents in a big way. If it's the more pummeling type of material you crave, death metal tracks such as "Gravitational Lensing" and the title track should easily fit the bill. The band puts it all together on the epic 16-minute closer "Clandestinity Now", a real adventurous piece featuring a host of vocal styles and sizzling guitar leads & riffs from Stefanivoc and Gardiner.
It's easy to fall in love with For Aeons Past-there's plenty here for both the progressive metal and extreme metal crowds to sink their teeth into, and the songs are memorable and very well played. Christian Alvestam is one of metal's most talented vocalists, and he's surrounded himself with a hot band here. Let's hope that this becomes more than just a one-off project and Solution 45 decides to make a go of it with additional albums and hopefully some live shows.
And, special mention also needs to be made for the great artwork by Pär Olofsson, who has done albums for Immortal, Exodus, and The Faceless.
Track Listing
01. The Close Beyond
02. Gravitational Lensing
03. Through Night-Kingdomed Gates
04. For Aeons Past
05. Lethean Tears
06. Bladed Vaults
07. Wirethrone
08. On Embered Fields Adust
09. Into Shadow
10. Clandestinity Now
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