Released on: 11th March 2022
“When words fail, music speaks” said Hans Christian Andersen. This epithet holds true with Solvenias’ Shadow Universe. Who, adapt enigmatic visions into a wonderfully progressive story. Woven purely through time and stitched with melody. And, carried on ethereal synths that ebb and flow like the tide on an alien world.
The third album titled Subtle Realms, Subtle Worlds is, ironically, a tumultuous journey through haunting synthetic approximations and downright raw and dirty overdrive. Inspiring thoughts and consideration to the magnitude of spacetime and the crotchet of life within its grand design. There is undoubtedly an element of theater here; The soundtrack to a silent space-opera film.
Subtle Realms, Subtle Worlds contains some surprises. You have got to love the muted trumpet heard midway through the albums playtime. Which, gives depth to an otherwise standard affair. It is around this mark that the album starts to come into its own. Where you should call SETI because this artifact forms cadences that truly bring the idea of worlds out-there to life.
Shadow Universe’s third rock movement from our sun has its moments in the heavens. But, stays on solid ground for most of its play with a movie-esq structure. The compositions do not vary much in their emotional range but, at least it is consistent.
7/10
