This is the debut album from UK post-metal band Mairu.
Sol Cultus brings together post-metal, sludge, and doom into a 49-minute feast of atmospheric heavy music. Mairu’s vision is a mood-rich immersive one, and Sol Cultus achieves their lofty ambitions.
Sol Cultus presents as a luxuriously rich soundscape of colour and depth. The music mixes its various stylistic influences together with cinematic scope to produce music that pulses with dark vibrancy. The promo blurb describes Mairu’s music as suitable for fans of Cult of Luna, Tool, The Ocean, Bossk, and Hundred Year Old Man, and this is a good starting point for Sol Cultus. I’d also add names such as Isis, Year of No Light, and Pelican to this list.
Mairu’s main focus is the creation of atmosphere and mood, but within this there’s plenty to grip the listener on first encounter. Longevity and substance are easily apparent and grow over time, but there are still elements of instant appeal to help new listeners find their way. An obvious one is the band’s prediction for huge, colossal riffs that pepper the album like mountains. Ambient, shoegaze, post-rock, and experimental textures are used to enhance and layer the music. Examples include the use of synths, saxophone, piano, introspective sections, etc. Mairu don’t limit themselves, and work in all manner of ideas and sounds across the album.
Sol Cultus is not a purely instrumental album, but it acts like one. What vocals there are are sparsely used; they are not the main focus and don’t appear on every song. In true instrumental fashion, the focus is very much on the creation of music that stands in its own right; the occasional vocals only add to this.
Sol Cultus takes the listener on a journey through eight tracks of emotive and dynamic mood-building. Expansive and expressive, Mairu have crafted an experience of atmospheric heaviness and epic scope that’s worth seeking out.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 