This band's debut full-length Tribus was a bit too post-metal for my tastes, despite that it had some good melodies. This EP is a whole different story, as the post-crap has been jettisoned for powerful, smoldering riffs and expansive songwriting that makes this album seem bigger than it is while still leaving me wanting more of it. More than a touch of Moonsorrow's epic feel here, along with the layered melodies typical of Cascadian bands. Like Wolves in the Throne Room with a folkier edge, this band blazes through some amazing material with a level of aggression and energy that sets this far away and above their previous album. How a band with this much talent and ability remains unsigned is a mystery to me, but I hope that gets corrected soon, because as it is, not enough people will hear the awesomeness of Solar.
