Solbrud shared brand new track ‘Sjæleskrig’ from their upcoming album

Copenhagen, Denmark -based Black Metal act SOLBRUD is gearing up for the release of the band’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, entitled “IIII”, which will be coming out on February 2, 2024 via Vendetta Records. After the first single “Tåge“, the band is now following up with the brand new track “Sjæleskrig”. Listen to the song here:

Guitarist Adrian Utzon Dietz on “Sjæleskrig”:

“On ‘IIII’ we’ve re-recorded a more densely layered studio version of the mournful instrumental ‘Sjæleskrig’, which was initially released as a live edition on our live album ‘Levende I Brønshøj Vandtårn’ (2021). The concept for a more heavy and slow song arose in part from the desire to give our drummer a breather in live sets, which are usually quite exhausting due to the amount of blast beats and double pedal parts involved in most of our other songs. I’ve always been very much into classic rock guitar and doing harmonies in the style of Wishbone Ash, Queen, UFO, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, etc. and got further inspired as I was filling in as guitarist for the Copenhagen doom rock band Demon Head a couple of years back. So I thought it would be interesting to try and incorporate signature leads within the darker Solbrud sound. That it became an instrumental track wasn’t actually the intention to begin with. We happened to not have any lyrics for it when we did the live album and still play it without, and I was actually working on two verses for it still when we were recording ‘IIII’, but eventually decided to discard them and keep it instrumental, apart from the one shriek when the distorted guitars kick in.“

On their upcoming album “IIII”, SOLBRUD goes directly against their previous way of composing, arranging, and filtering the music – namely collectively. When the songwriting for the upcoming double album began, SOLBRUD decided that the four members should each, individually, compose music and write lyrics for one vinyl side each. But of course, all tracks recorded by the band as a whole. At the same time, there was a desire to expand the musical palette even further. This new process was therefore both inspiring and exciting for each individual band member. But also, a working method that became very time- and energy-consuming along the way. The result of it all has become SOLBRUD‘s longest, most ambitious, and most diverse album to date – even leaving room for shorter and simpler tracks. The band’s atmospheric and alluring black metal with their characteristic sound, however, remains intact.

“IIII” track listing:
01. Hvile (17:36)
02. Tåge (6:13)
03. Når Solen Brydes Del I – En Undring Vækkes I Mit Sind (2:04)
04. Når Solen Brydes Del II – Mod Afgrundens Flammehav (11:27)
05. Når Solen Brydes Del III – For Evigt, For Altid, Forandret (7:03)
06. Når Solen Brydes Del IIII – En Ny Tid For Mig Står (3:20)
07. Ædelråd (15:58)
08. Sjæleskrig (8:19)
09. En Ild Som Tusind Sole (10:01)
10. Aske (7:48)
11. Postludium (4:15)

As mentioned, the album is called “IIII”. The number 4 thus is a recurring theme; 4 members, 4 vinyl sides and SOLBRUD‘s 4th studio album. The 4 classical elements – Wind, Water, Earth and Fire – are also part of the universe around “IIII”. Each vinyl side – and thus each member’s compositions – constitute one element each.

The album was produced by SOLBRUD with Markus F. Larsen, who also mixed the album – and finally mastered by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel, etc) in Sweet Silence Studios. “IIII” will be released on Friday 2nd of February 2024 by German label Vendetta Records and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION.

SOLBRUD are:
David Hernan – vocal/guitar
Adrian Utzon Dietz – guitar
Tobias Hjorth Pedersen – bass
Troels Hjorth Pedersen – drums