Once again I am bummed to find that I have arrived too late to appreciate a band during its existence. Sol Axis was an Irish black metal project with a vicious and shredding tone painting trails of blood across the malleable darkness of an unforgiving atmosphere. ...To Mark the Ages is a collection of their previously released and now re-mastered 2004 demo, and an EP of the same name. In addition there are two Bathory covers ("Raise the Dead" and "The Return of Darkness and Evil") and an unreleased track. The band featured some members of lesser known Irish bands like Abaddon Incarnate, Kingdom and Dreamsfear.Much of the material ranges from good to great. In particular I enjoyed "Dirge for All Nations" from the 2004 demo, which alternates a modern Satyricon-like groove with a somber blasting segment. "Through Red Soil" from the EP has some barbaric drumming and churning black atmospheres conjured through the chords and apocalyptic vocals, with a nice Norsecore style arpeggiated breakdown. "Scars On Earth" features a grim, flowing riff along with a minimal rocking drumbeat before blasting out. Both Bathory covers are decent, "Raise the Dead" the better of the two.
The project is listed 'On-Hold' at their MySpace page, so with luck these guys might strap together a full length onslaught. While I can't call their writing truly unique, it's got that an intangible blackened freshness to it I find rare in a lot of black metal. It also wouldn't hurt to have another Irish band to follow besides Primordial and Altar of Plagues.
Verdict: Win [7/10]
http://www.myspace.com/solaxisireland
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