A band with a long career and such an influence as Sol Invictus deserves something more than just an ordinary tribute. So the French label Cynfeirdd has done its best to come up with something special. Sol Lucet Omnibus is a double cd that comes in a fine looking digipack, with an extensive booklet. On this tribute no less than 24, mostly well-known bands in the neo-folk scene, play inspired cover version sof their favourite Sol Invictus songs. And if this isn’t enough, there also is a very limited special edition in a wooden box with a bonus 2-track mini cd (77 copies).
Many of the cover versions are from the earlier years of Sol Invictus. Since the album “In a garden green” the compositions of Sol Invictus have become more complex, more classical, using more instruments. Compared with recent albums, many early classics as ‘The killing tide’ and ‘Against the modern world’ have a more raw, direct approach. Therefore they are very suited for cover versions, bands can give their own twist to them. With tribute albums it’s always interesting to see if a band follows the same style as the original, or if it tries to completely rebuild it. Surprisingly enough almost every band on this album has succeeded in contributing a good track, no matter which strategy they follow.
Because of the large number of songs I will not review them all with great detail. The first track on cd 1 by Oraison is immediately very good, surprising is that they have translated some of the lyrics of ‘Fields’ into French. Dies Natalis add a solid version of ‘Media’, they don’t do anything new with it, just play it with a lot of enthousiasm. Original is the cover of ‘Oh what fun’ (of the great “In the fields album”) by Naevus, who give it a very slow, minimal rendition. Gae Bolg play ‘Death of the West’ in their typical festive style, with triumphant trumpets. The beginning of ‘Edward’ by One for Jude is not so convincng, but the end with the French accordeon is very seductive, reminding me of ‘Amelie Poulain’. Well, I could go on and on, the next 7 tracks are also good to excellent, with the melancholic ‘Sawney bean’ by Anima in Fiamme as my personal favourite.
Cd 2 in general contains some lesser known names and also a few less highlights. But still this tribute keeps a high level, with the intimate song of Orchis, the treathening version of ‘Against the modern world’ by Westwind, the gothic metal of Agalloch and the icy dance of Kirlian Camera as some of the better tracks. The bonus mcd contains a funny track by the Gae Bolg-related Seven Pines (‘Wolf-age, axe-age’), and an almost danceable version of ‘Believe me’ by Datura.
A worthy tribute to Sol Invictus, especially cd 1 is excellent!
Cd1: ORAISON, DIES NATALIS, NAEVUS, GAE BOLG, ONE FOR JUDE, SIEBEN, HIDE & SEEK, NEUTRAL, WHILE ANGELS WATCH, ANIMA IN FIAMME, PILORI, XIII
CD2: TOR LUNDVALL, SHINING VRIL, ORCHIS, SCIVIAS, SLEEPING PICTURES, OTHILA, WESTWIND, AGALLOCH, SPIRITUAL FRONT, THE BLUE HOUR, KIRLIAN CAMERA/STALINGRAD and ANDREW KING.
MCD: SEVEN PINES, DATURA
