From their Bandcamp page, SOLAR CROSS is "straightforward yet nuanced Metal with lyrics that draw inspiration from Finnish folklore and personal ritual relationship with natural cycles," by three brothers from Finland. The album contains twelve tracks. "Kaukomieli" leads off the album. It's a brief opening instrumental. The mood is somber and melancholy. "Jatuli" opens with a heavier sound. That opening riff is fantastic. It's nothing new, but it sure bubbles with power. Harsh vocals cut against the Folky sound and if your head isn't tapping, you might want to check if you're still alive. "Bloodstreams" begins with a choppier sound and some ethereal vocals. Just before the half-way mark, the riff picks up and runs. It finishes on a run of open notes tinged with some inventive lead guitar work.

"Valkoparta" is barely over a minute in length and does not leave much of an impression in the overall sound. "The Ever-Unfolding" opens with a slow-moving riff with just enough distortion to keep in the world of Heavy Metal. As the album moves forward, these riffs are exposed for what they are-riffs that you have heard before. The chorus is very well done with melody, however, and the band continues to perplex me, so I want to listen to more. "High God" begins with a much heavier sound, still with a slow-moving riff. It moves forward with purpose and intensity. "The Wheel Turns" is a pretty little number with a short pedigree.

"Mother of Wolves" begins with a heavier riff above open notes. It begins a galloping pace with harsh vocals. Harmonized clean vocals appear in the chorus, but it's a bit repetitive. "Technophiliac Trance" features some more Progressive elements along with some dissonance in the main riff. When it settles into a groove, the riff is eerie and you can more clearly understand the song title. "Vipunen" is barely thirty seconds in length. "From Secret Source" begins with a faster moving riff and some steady drumming. The sound here is just a bit more interesting, with twinges of Folk Metal and some ominous notes. "Golden Crowned, and Pure" closes the album. Opening with clean guitar tones, the vocals are evenly toned for a while, before the bluesy elements take over. Again, the sound is more interesting, and they seem to have hit a stride the more tracks that pass.

I would say that the band relies just a bit too much on open notes on the album. It's a common and costly mistake that many bands make, falling back onto the safety rails of the genre that many Metalheads won't notice or don't care about. It has just enough nuance in my opinion to keep it from falling completely flat...a good, solid listen with potential, but nothing more and nothing less.