Hailing from Switzerland, SAMAEL has had a long career in the Heavy Metal world. Formed in the late 1980's, they began as a Black Metal act, but later morphed into a more Industrial/Electronic sound. They have recorded and released ten albums to date.

"Solar Soul" is their seventh album, issued here in a Re-Release, and contains twelve tracks. I found a lot of songs that I liked here, and will highlight some of them for you in this review. From the opening notes of the title track, it is a declarative song that you won't soon forget. The sterile, monotone vocals and main riff provide a sharp contrast with the musical elements in the background, and you will enjoy a full chorus here.

"Promised Land" comes in with a bit more speed and swinging rhythm that you cannot help headbanging along to. I daresay the keys have a more noticeable presence here which is pleasing. Not to be outdone, "Slavocracy" continues the melodic but cold assault, over the bed of deep and dark Metal. "On the Rise" is another strong track, where the electronica is done very eerily. The harmonies meet nicely in the chorus section as well, though they are subtle. "Suspended Time" is another memorable song that sounds like someone being tortured by robots in a timed, systematic way. The addition of the female vocals provides a nice contrast to the sterility of the music.

"Valkries' New Ride" for me is the gem of the album. If someone were to ask me to describe SAMAEL, I would illustrate with this track. The sound picks up steam from verse to chorus, and has that building effect that keeps you interested the entire way through. "Quasar Waves" throws a nice curveball in the entrance, complete with a sitar and that middle-Eastern melody overtop the dark, pressing guitars and bass. Closing the album is a the song "Olympus," which has a regal and authoritative quality to it, aptly named. Overall this is a strong album for the band. Though it's easy for this style to become repetitive, they push just enough variegate to keep it fresh.