It’s not uncommon to see a band want to try something different with each record that they put out as they simply don’t want to repeat themselves whether it be because they don’t want to seem like they’ve become boring as a band or they simply don’t want to repeat themselves. I cannot help but highly respect such an ideal because I’ve found that the desire to want to challenge yourselves to do something different whether it be out of a desire to just do something different or to prove to either themselves or their listeners that they can do more than one sound. Husmanskost’s brand of grind is something that I’ve had a good bit of fun diving into and picking apart over the past year, but it’s here with “Solstice II” that they’ve reached a clear peak the likes of which I was truly not expecting.

I wouldn’t blame you if you said you wouldn’t expect much out of six tracks from an album where the longest song wasn’t even four minutes long, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done in a way that can really make your eyebrow raise in intrigue. I also wouldn’t blame you for thinking any band from the world of grind would be capable of delivering something that’s pretty damn interestingly different in all the right areas to make them stand out in such a way that doesn’t come across as boring, stale, or as a downright failure in execution. In no small way, Husmanskost excellently brings both of those ideas to the table with “Solistice II” in such a way that shows this band is much more capable of grind the likes of which wasn’t bad by any means, but there’s so much more life here that just gives this work infinitely more flavor. Don’t get me wrong, this work is still greatly along the same lines as the previous five works as it’s still steeped in the world of grind, but you can tell right off that bat that Husmanskost wanted to go in a new direction with this effort and they succeeded surprisingly well all things considered. I couldn’t go through “Solstice II” without subconsciously drawing comparisons to the likes of Heathen Beast, but other than that this is a work wholly original that I wouldn’t mind seeing more of in the slightest.

It’s the inclusion of ambient beginnings and endings to songs that really make this record have a different texture than its predecessors, and it’s the very inviting melodies that only further amplify the slightly different approach that Husmanskost brought to the table for this work. Now, I’m not saying that “Solstice II” is a grand work of its kind the likes of which we’ve never seen before and should be heralded for its originality and its spinning of the genre right on its head, but there is a sliver of truth that can be taken from such a hyperbole. This is, without a doubt, the most accomplished work that Husmanskost has provided us thus far and it’s in virtually every scathing moment of “Solstice II” that we can really hear the gears grinding the brains of these musicians and their way of making music evolve even if it’s at a slow pace. But should you be here just for that nasty grind that’s meant to evaporate your blood and cause riots in the streets, worry not for this work continues that trend in spectacular quality! It’s a deadly combination between what we’ve already seen with the fresh ideas brought to life in wondrous detail, and I truly hope Husmanskost decides to expand this way in their sound be it in the same direction sonically as “Solstice II” or try something different altogether. Either way, there’s no denying that this work is a tremendous step forward for this band, and it shouldn’t be seen as anything short of ambitious for a minuscule act like this.

Like I said, I was not ready for this listen by any means whatsoever. I was prepared for a listen the likes of which very much like what I’ve heard from Husmanskost three times in the past fifteen months, but that’s not quite what we’re to get from “Solstice II”. Far from the same but still familiar enough in all the right areas, it’s at every turn here that Husmanskost shows us a side of their sound I never thought I’d have the pleasure of hearing, and it’s something that I hope to see much more of in the future.

“Solstice II” releases on December 21st!

LISTEN to Husmanskost on Bandcamp here.

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