When an ambitious band comes around that dares to try something we don’t see every day, it immediately catches my eye more often than not. That’s especially true for me when the material in question is a single track spanning an immense length of time which can easily lead to a boring listen in the wrong hands, but if it’s put into the hands of the capable then what we get in turn can only be described as a monolithic experience. The realm of doom produces such creations for reasons that should be obvious, and it really does feel like they’re starting to become more and more of a thing despite still being quite rare. With its latest creation, Blackfold dares to attempt such with an undeniably cathartic creation being thrown before us with all the power and intrigue to match.

Whenever we get an effort like this, it almost feels mandatory to have some sort of a voice guide the listener through the sonic trail that they find themselves in otherwise they become lost in the rhythms and soundscapes with no logical escape in sight, but that doesn’t stop some from still attempting to go down the voiceless route with a few achieving a good deal of success with Sunn O))) easily being a name that many will think of. I wasn’t expecting to see Blackfold travel down that same path with the 68 minutes that is presented to us here with everything that “Solarus” brings forth but it’s with surprising quality, loads of catharsis laced into every crushing moment, and a clear goal in mind of the exact kind of experience that is desired by the artist being the reality of what we’re treated to here as it checks off all the right boxes in every single way. This is a true slow-burner of an album if ever there was one as Blackfold truly takes its time to get across all the strife that it must purge to the point where the listener is all but swarmed by that “Solarus” expunges from the pits of Blackfold’s soul, and it enriches the performance as a whole in such a compelling form that one cannot help but get swept into the patient intensity that this work delivers in heaps.

All of “Solarus” brings glory to a concept like this that is seeing more and more dare to attempt it with the success expectedly varying from one band to the next, but there’s no way for me to deny that Blackfold has all but succeeded in its attempt as this work not only delivers on its promise but brings loads of passion and emotion to the table to sway many of the souls that come before it. Whether or not Blackfold will dare to try something like this again in the future I cannot say, but regardless of what happens, there’s very little to argue when it comes to the quality and sublime power that is packed within this speechless purging of the soul and all that it accomplishes in just over an hour.

LISTEN to “Solarus” on Bandcamp here.