SOLSTICE – “White Horse Hill” LP
1. III
2. TO SOL A THANE
3. BEHELD, A MAN OF STRAW
4. WHITE HORSE HILL
5. FOR ALL DAYS, & FOR NONE
6. UNDER WAVES LIE OUR DEAD
7. GALLOW FEN
Recorded at Vibrations Studios, Huddersfield,
England
Mixed & Produced by Richard Whittaker at
FX Studios, London, England
Statement
After issuing two vinyl only mini albums on
our own WHITE HORSE label in 2014 and 2016 respectively (“DEATH’S CROWN IS
VICTORY”, and a limited promotional version of early demo tracks from this album
entitled “TO SOL A THANE”) the resulting impetus has bought us around to
completing the musical work that is “WHITE HORSE HILL”.
“WHITE HORSE HILL” represents another two
years work on behalf the band, it originally started to be written in 2014, and
was finished late 2016, but the recording was delayed by the departure of our drummer
James mid 2016; he was subsequently replaced by the drummer from “NEW DARK AGE”,
Mr. Rick Budby. Naturally, Rick spent the early part of 2017 learning the songs
before recording them with us. In the meantime we rejected offers of deals from
numerous large labels. Not out of arrogance, but because we felt that the
labels simply were not on the same page as us ideologically, or artistically.
Musically the album is intended to work in
conjunction with both the lyrics (rooted firmly in the English oral folk
tradition), and artwork (by US artist Chris Smith), both of which we place in equal
value as being part of the finished piece. It is worth mentioning also that “WHITE
HORSE HILL” was not written for the CD/Download market either, but rather written
for that purest and most noble of formats; a 33rpm vinyl LP. This is of course why
the albums run time is 46 minutes and no more. We believe that the days of
bands releasing 70 minute plus albums for the CD market should be long
forgotten, because they represented the notion that quantity should always supplant
quality. If an album doesn’t fit onto a single side of a C-90, it’s too long!
Nor was “WHITE HORSE HILL” produced with the
intention of being listened to upon PC speakers or cell phones, with a
homogenous Disney-metal production. We
prefer real raw power from Marshall amp gain, not overpriced boutique
distortion pedals and digital effects, and real analogue drums played by a real
drummer, not sampled computer programmes. This album is intended to be listened
to LOUD, on real speakers.
Musically we continue to draw inspiration (inspiration,
not influence, because there is a world
of difference!) from the same well of leftfield 80’s Epic & Doom metal
as we did in the Mid 90’s when we began to forge our own path. For it was not
intended that we should voyage far from our roots, and nor will we ever.
And so, as we continue releasing records we
believe in 100%; and that don’t particularly sound like anything else that
anyone else is doing stylistically (Though in recent years numerous younger
bands have admitted our influence upon their own output, for which we are
humbled by the acknowledgement), we would be grateful if you would take the
time to listen to “WHITE HORSE HILL”.
Thank you.
We now turn our idle hands to our next record
for 2019, “THE PLOUGH & THE FORGE”
Solstice, February 2018
Pressing information
US Vinyl version – DARK DESCENT RECORDS (DDR 198
LP) – 850 gsm tip on (case wrapped) jacket with artwork variation and 4 page full colour insert – Limited edition
transparent blue vinyl with artcards.
US CD Version – DARK DESCENT RECORDS (DDR 198
CD) – Jewel case with 12 page booklet & bonus track.
US Tape Version – DARK DESCENT RECORDS – TBA
with different bonus tracks.
European Vinyl Version – IRON BONEHEAD
PRODUCTIONS (IBP 385) – Trifold 350 gsm reverse board jacket with artwork
variation and UV Spot varnish – Limited edition transparent green vinyl with A2
poster.
European CD Version – INVICTUS PRODUCTIONS
(IP 127) – Gatefold heavy card sleeve with UV Spot varnish and 4 page full
colour insert.
European Tape Version – INVICTUS PRODUCTIONS
(IP 127) – TBA with different bonus tracks
