DISTANT PAST is a Heavy Metal band out of Switzerland that indeed hearkens back to the distant past of metal. Some call it NWOBHM, others just call it Classic Heavy Metal. Whatever you call it, you’ll recognize it when you hear it. But it isn’t just their sound that’s reminiscent of that by gone era, it’s also the subjects they address—"aliens, ancient civilizations, ghosts, war, utopian societies, doomsday predictions, religion, fantasy and old sci-fi classics”—okay, well those things are still around, but at least you won’t get lectured about climate change or man’s inhumanity to man. I mean they might broach those topics, but they do it in a much more round about and clever way, such as through the retelling of a classic sci-fi novel. Case in point: On November 8, 2024, the band released their fifth studio album, “Solaris,” on Art Gates Records.

As one might guess the album takes its inspiration from visionary Polish sci-fi writer Stanisław Lem and his 1961 novel Solaris. There were also at least two movie versions, 1972 and 2002, both of which make significant departures from the original work. The cover of the DISTANT PAST album seems to make a nod to both the novel and the films, depicting a profile of woman cast against a backdrop of cosmic turmoil. The cover art by Tomasz Moranski is stunning. So, kudos there. No one can accuse DISTANT PAST of not keeping it classy.   

The album features 11 tracks, including a brief intro, with a full runtime of over 43 minutes. All the tracks are finely executed—slick riffs, clean soaring vocals and harmonies, racing tempo, thunderous bass—everything you’d expect from Classic Heavy Metal. As an added bonus the lyrics beat out both movies in staying true to the novel’s narrative. Extra points for working in the word “archeoastronomy” six times in one song. It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like Blue Oyster Cult’s “Astronomy,” but it sure beats it on syllable count.

As far as standout tracks, I’m inclined toward “Warriors of the Wasteland,” which is probably the heaviest track on the album; “The Watchers” which eases us in with contemplative intro before getting scalding hot with some mean lead solos; and “Fire & Ice” which closes the album at a galloping tempo.

Altogether I recommend this album on two fronts: First for giving true homage to an often-forgotten sci-fi pioneer; Second, for sticking to their mission of delivering solid metal recalling the glorious distant past. Probably not an album you’ll play at your next barbeque outing, but a great selection for the headphones.