Sol Invicto // Loosely Aware // EP Review

The brief description on the list of available music to review stated, “Featuring members of Deftones and Cypress Hill,” and my interest was immediately peaked.

So, who from each group is in this outfit and which route will it take musically?

Having been founded by producer/guitarist Richie Londres with Stephen Carpenter from Deftones and Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill, Londres later bought in Dan Foord from Sikth to take on the drums, moving toward a more live and raw sound.

Having released a double album titled Initium in 2017, the band started working on new music the following year, however, things were delayed – until now when we get this 3 track EP, featuring vocals from Sean Pague of Plague to Pyres – to tide us over until the group hit the studio later this year to record a full-length metal album.

Musically wise, I will be honest – I was surprised, very pleasantly at what I heard when I pressed play.

Opening with ‘Lost In Translation’ the Djent and Industrial bend of Metal starts straight away, with sharp tones, deep lows and blistering drums matched by an abrasive vocal, this caught me well off guard but is so good.

Throw in some Metallic Hardcore influences and some Post Hardcore, this is a blend of so many genres that there isn’t much point in me trying to identify or pigeon hole any of it. Simply put it is crushingly heavy.

Continuing the theme as the EP continues into ‘The Obvious Play’ that’s abrasion does go anywhere and feels like your skin is getting grated off as you get dragged along the road by your feet.

Closing with ‘Revelation of the Method’ the 13-minute offering is going to leave you as sore as being degloved. The combination of sounds and influences creates something rare but so good. When you also add in that Latin fused percussion, you will be wondering whatever is coming next – all you will know is that it’s going to be good.

I can’t wait for what is to come with the full length and also need to delve into the previously released album to get the full Sol Invicto experience.

Anyone into the more Metallic, Djent, Post scenes – give this a blast, you won’t be disappointed and if like me and haven’t been exposed to the band before – you will be gripped.

Loosely Aware will be released Friday, November 8^th 2024

Review: Ed Ford