Samael

Despite claims about Samael’s movement back and forth between metal and electronic rock, Solar Soul is overwhelmingly typical for the band. Heavy guitars, thick synths, Eastern melodies, catchy grooves, this latest album captures the sounds Samael are mostly widely known for. But even though it feels right, Solar Soul is short on sticking power once the disc reaches its end. What was refreshing more than a decade ago is growing stale after years of Rammstein releases. Tracks like "Promised Land,” which would make fruitful compilation fodder, just get lost in the whole. Good background music, Solar Soul lacks the ammunition to take many prisoners.