Sol Invictus (band)

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Sol Invictus
Sol Invictus Live.jpg
Sol Invictus in 2005
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres Neofolk
Years active1987–present
LabelsTursa
Members Tony Wakeford
Renee Rosen
Caroline Jago
Lesley Malone
Eilish McCraken
Past members Ian Read
Liz Gray
Gary Smith
Karl Blake
Leithana
Eric Rodgers
Sarah Bradshaw
Nick Hall
Céline Marleix-Bardeau
Nathalie Van Keymeulen
David Mellor
Andrew King
Guy Harries
M
Lloyd James
Website sol-invictus.bandcamp.com

Sol Invictus are a British neofolk band formed by Tony Wakeford in 1987. [1] Wakeford has been the sole constant member of the group since its inception, although numerous musicians have contributed and collaborated with him under the Sol Invictus name over the years.

Contents

History

Prior to forming Sol Invictus, Tony Wakeford had co-founded the band Death in June. In early 1984, Wakeford had been a supporter of the National Front (UK), and was fired from Death in June for "bringing his 'right-wing leanings into the group'. [2] Subsequently, he formed Above the Ruins, a post-punk band which became controversial due to its association with right-wing politics. [3] In 1987, Wakeford distanced himself from these views, and formed Sol Invictus, [3] adapting the band's name from a cult that predated Christianity. [4] In 1990, Wakeford formed his own record label, Tursa. With distribution by World Serpent Distribution, Tursa released numerous albums by Sol Invictus, starting with Trees in Winter. [3] After World Serpent dissolved in the 2000s, Cold Spring began distributing the band's albums. [3]

Due to Wakeford's past political associations, Sol Invictus has been accused of neo-fascism. [5] Wakeford initially denied ever having been a member of the National Front or Above the Ruins, but later admitted to having been a member of both. [2] In 2007, Wakeford described his National Front membership as "probably the worst decision of my life". [6]

Musical style

According to AllMusic biographer Paul Simpson, "Sol Invictus is one of the most prolific and influential bands associated with neo-folk or apocalyptic folk". [3] The band's music combines acoustic guitar playing and "neo-classical instrumentation" with elements of industrial music. [3] Tony Wakeford uses the phrase "folk noir" to describe his music. [3] Sol Invictus' debut album, Against the Modern World (1988), displayed a post-punk sound which incorporated elements of what was later termed martial industrial. [3] According to Peter Webb, the band's first four albums use a "very raw and basic" sound consisting of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drums which "evoke a premodern world that deals with a variety of subject matter from paganism, to England's quirkiness, to anti-Americanism, and looking to the traditions of Europe." [4] The band had considerable interest in heathen and Mithraist themes, often with an explicit antipathy to Christianity, reflecting the involvement of Wakeford and other members in neopagan groups. [7] The band's lyrics display a pessimistic, apathetic view towards modern society. [3] [5] Their later albums are marked by more personal lyrical themes, [3] and expand their sound with cello, violin, orchestral drums, flute, and harp. [4]

Discography

YearTitleFormat, special notes
1987Against the Modern WorldMini-LP
1989In the Jaws of the SerpentLive LP
1989Lex TalionisPart of box set with Current 93 and Nurse with Wound
1989Fields12" with Current 93 and Nurse With Wound
1990 Sol Veritas Lux CD
1990Abattoirs of Love7"
1990Lex TalionisCD
1990Trees in WinterCD/LP
1991The Killing TideCD/LP
1992Death in June/Current 93/Sol InvictusLive CD with Death in June and Current 93
1992Looking for Europe7"
1992The Lamp of the Invisible Light7" compilation track
1992Somewhere in Europe/See the Dove Fall7"
1992Let Us PreyLive CD
1992King & QueenCD
1994The Death of the WestCD
1994Black EuropeLive CD
1995 In the Rain CD
1997 The Blade CD
1998In EuropaLive CD
1998All Things Strange and RareCompilation CD
1999In a Garden GreenCD
2000TriesteLive CD
2000The Hill of CrossesCD
2000Eve7"
2001BruggeLive concert, 1996-02-03
2002ThronesCD
2003The Giddy Whirls of CenturiesCompilation CD
2004The AngelCompilation CD
2005The Devil's SteedCD
2006Walking in the Rain on the Ostrow TumskiCompilation CD
2010The Bad Luck Bird/Stella Maris7"
2011The Cruellest MonthCD (Studio album)
2014Once Upon a TimeCD (Studio album)
2017Ghostly WhistlingsCompilation 10"
2018NecropolisCD (Studio album)

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References

  1. "Sol Invictus Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 Robert, Forbes; Stampton, Eddie (9 November 2015). "1985". The White Nationalist Skinhead Movement, UK & USA, 1979-1993. Feral House. pp. 161–164. ISBN   9781627310253.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Simpson, Paul. "Sol Invictus Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Webb, Peter (10 June 2010). "Neofolk or Post-Industrial Music". Exploring the Networked Worlds of Popular Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 68. ISBN   9781135910792.
  5. 1 2 Livingstone, David (2015). "Occulture". Transhumanism: The History of a Dangerous Idea. Sabilillah Publications. p. 307. ISBN   9781515232575.
  6. Barry, Robert (3 October 2012). "FACT meets Boyd Rice: noise pioneer, film buff, leader of the Church of Satan". Fact magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. Backes, Uwe; Moreau, Patrick (2012). Die völkisch-religiöse Bewegung im Nationalsozialismus: Eine Beziehungs- und Konfliktgeschichte. ISBN   9783525369227.