Review: “Embrace The Darkness” by Solitary

Produced by the renowned Simon Efemey (Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Deceased) and adorned in the instantly recognisable artwork of Koot (Saxon, Girlschool, The Almighty) an album which continues the death march of Preston Thrash crew Solitary while tackling difficult subjects ranging from abuse and addiction to the war in Ukraine has arrived in “Embrace The Darkness“. It does so as the band celebrate their 30th anniversary, the four piece show no signs of slowing down or shutting up, still having plenty of fire in their bellies having given us a wealth of classics over the duration of their career in Metal. A wealth of highlights include 1998’s “Nothing Changes“, 2017’s “The Diseased Heart of Society” and of course a live album captured at Bloodstock Open Air Festival…

After a news reader delivers headlines about eating disorders putting children’s lives in danger the classic Thrash begins with title track “Embrace The Darkness” and its and old school style cut to savour. An infectious sing-a-long chorus isn’t what you might expect Solitary but this one has one that you just can’t get out of your skull once it worms its way in. Add to that a flamboyant face melter of a solo and a little orchestration in the final moments and there is no escaping the fact that Solitary have dropped an absolute banger. It’s like Trivium meeting “Imperium” era Machine Head down a dark alley for a beer bottle fight and that is a feeling that doesn’t go away as “Settle Scores The Old Way” takes hold. A cut which is going to get the crowd chanting “Fight! Fight! Fight!” with their fists in the air when played live, this adrenaline fuelled neck snapping thrill ride is the very definition of what Thrash is, the perfect example of bare knuckle aggression in the best possible way. A harrowing tale of abuse creates the backbone of the razor sharp “Virtues“, another front loaded with killer riffs and the kind of solos that other bands would sell their souls to claim as their own. As instantly addictive as the latest designer drug, this one is another which feels timeless and could have been released at any point after 1986 without sounding old or dated and will have your singing along before the end of the first spin.

Designed for a Bloodstock sized circle pit, the energy of “Bury It Now” captures the live energy of Solitary like lightening in a bottle, the spoken word moments perfectly placed to give the tune another dimension. No power ballad in sight the band continue to tear it up with the electric “Beneath The Surface“, a venomous slab of a tune with a booming bass line from Gareth Harrop and a belter of a soaring solo from Andy Mellor that cuts like a hot knife through butter. The quality of the musicianship and the song writing is arguably the finest of the bands career, the four piece maturing like an aged whiskey. They show no signs of slowing down either with the blistering 128 seconds of “The Disappeared” a classic tale of war delivered at breakneck speed. A potent cocktail stripped down to the bare essentials, this lean and mean fighting machine has become the prize fighter you’ll want to put your hard earned cash into backing when they enter the ring. “Section 21” is equally devastating, leaving no second for the listener to catch their breath with the headbangable moments non-stop. An earworm riff and bouncy bass line that you can hum is the work of masters of the dark arts who want to ensure you can not escape them.

Going off like a Molotov Cocktail, another rampaging tale of war smashes into the ear drums in “Divided And Demented” and will leave a scar. A skull battering affair from start to finish with flavours of the Speed Metal onslaught of Slayer and a duelling solo which finds Sherrington and Mellor going toe to toe, this one is a masterful punishment beating. A whirlwind of percussive battery and a slick transition to slow the pace down without losing any of the energy for that solo make it an absolute pleasure. There has always been a brutal honesty about Sherrington’s lyrics and the caustic indictment of the current state of World address that is “Filtering Hindsight” is exactly that. Death looks clearer through bloodshot eyes and a song with no sugar coating is exactly what politicians need to be force fed, the melody touching on Melodic Death Metal brilliantly without going all the way. A grand finale in the form of cover of The Exploited classic “Beat The Bastards” that has been given a Thrash makeover so it’s primed and ready for the live arena is the ideal way to bring the curtain down on ripper of an album. Take a bow Solitary, you’ve outdone yourselves this time with what has to be one of the albums of the year [10/10]

Track Listing

1. III-XXIII-MMXX (intro) & Embrace The Darkness
2. Settle Scores The Old Way
3. Virtues
4. Bury It Now
5. Beneath The Surface
6. The Disappeared
7. Section 21
8. Divided And Demented (vinyl only bonus track)
9. Filtering Hindsight
10. Beat The Bastards (The Exploited Cover) (CD only bonus track)

“Embrace The Darkness” by Solitary is out 6th September 2024 via Twisted Into Form