Icelandic post-rock quartet Sólstafir has unveiled a new video for their single “Blakkrakki” (Black Dog), the lead track from their upcoming album Hin Helga Kvöl (The Holy Suffering), set for release on November 8, 2024, through Century Media. The album follows the critically acclaimed “Endless Twilight of Codependent Love” (2020) and promises another exploration of emotional and mythological themes
The video for “Blakkrakki” is a visual and musical treat, featuring the band performing on a flatbed truck travelling through Iceland’s beautiful-inspiring summer scenery. Director Bowen Staines, who has worked with Sólstafir on multiple occasions, had the vision for this video over four years ago. He explains:
“The guys are playing the song while standing on a flatbed trailer doing sixty miles per hour on a stretch of highway surrounded by one of the oldest lava flows in Iceland. Blakkrakki was a blast to make, and we hope you have fun watching it, too”
Sólstafir is known for creating music that mirrors the wild, melancholic beauty of their homeland, with their sound blending post-rock, atmospheric metal, and elements of Icelandic folklore. In the past we praised their live performances – during Mystic Festival they delivered on of the most amazing gig that year
The single’s metaphor of the “Black Dog” taps into traditional Icelandic folklore, representing inner struggles and darkness. This theme aligns with the album’s exploration of hardship and emotional battle. The band’s signature style perfectly complements the rugged Icelandic landscapes seen in the video, enhancing the emotional weight of the song.
Nordic Descent Tour 2024
Alongside the release of “Blakkrakki”, Sólstafir has announced their Nordic Descent Tour 2024. The 24-date European tour, running from November to December, will take the band to cities including Brighton, Manchester, Dublin, Glasgow, and London, where they will perform alongside Finnish experimental rockers Oranssi Pazuzu, Faroese doomsters Hamferð, and Swedish post-rockers Helga.
“Blakkrakki” is just a glimpse of what Hin Helga Kvöl will offer, continuing Sólstafir’s legacy of emotionally charged, atmospheric rock that channels the mystical beauty of Iceland.
