Review Summary: Adrift in a blissful haze.
When we want to experience a sort of dreamy state, we look for an escape. Stress is common within everyone, and music is a prime candidate to help alleviate it. For listeners who enjoy an engaging soundscape of echoing chords and vocals, that's where Sol Distorsion comes into play. Based in Osaka, Japan and with their self-titled record of shoegaze/psychedelic rock, they plan to immerse you into a cloudy yet enthralling trek through kaleidoscopic transitions. Opening with rattling cymbals and dissonant riffs, the band gives you an effective introduction to what's in store throughout the record. Distant vocals can be heard through the auditorial haze and can evoke a feeling akin to a trance. While it might seem that things, later on, will sound mellowed and down-tempo, Sol Distorsion suddenly hits you with "Blood Red Moon". As it emits an exuberant composition of firm, upbeat riffs, the cryptic and distant vocal approach adds to the psychedelic experience. As the band is guiding you through these passages, the tone begins to set it. Though, Sol Distorsion has a curveball prepared.
After wading through the auditorial mist for a while, it begins to clear up. Instead of the riffs leading the song, the drums and the vocals start to take the forefront as things start to sound foreboding (contrasting from the uplifting sense heard earlier). While still maintaining the immersive qualities heard earlier, the tone of the record starts to sound somber, though refreshing. As a mellow, echoing guitar riff and a calming vocal verse eases you on the closing track "Iris", you're then immediately thrown into a finale of the rumbling haze that you were once familiar with. Completely washing the listener over with hard-hitting percussions and alluring, low-tuned riffs as it eventually concludes the experience into a subdued outro. In the end, with the ongoing vibrational sound and optimistic quality, the record instills a feeling of catharsis. Each song contains a sort of unique identity with memorable highlights in the guitar compositions simultaneously complemented by the cryptic vocal performance. Structurally, the record is pretty sound and offers a variety of different types of heavy-hitting hitting ideas amongst the four songs present. With the captivating compositions of "Sol" and the refreshing pace of "Bloom" midway through, it makes for an interesting rollercoaster of the two styles of music. Honestly, it feels somewhat quintessential for those who want to find a pleasant break-away from reality.
Overall Rating 4/5
Standout Tracks: Blood Red Moon, Iris
