Just a bit before Small Stone releases the 2nd LP by Greatdayforup and before Solace are announced Kings of the heavy world (from what I’ve been reading, another live performance will do the trick), it’s time for Monolith to shed some more light on both bands and this great split that was released last year.
Greatdayforup head for a furious yet melodic heavy rock approach. I have their debut EP as well and the improvement is obvious. Big riff after big riff, pummeling low end, solid compositions, vocals from melodic to screaming hell. Closer comparisons I can mention are Milligram or Rebreather. Opener "August, Nineteen Seventy Nine" stands out but all 3 songs are brutally intense without the band ever skipping their sense for melody. Keep an eye for these guys.
Solace is the shit. Split with fuzz rockers Solarized, "Further" and "13" have already proved them to be lords of the riff and masters of the groove. Having one of the best singers around helps as well. Until this release at least. A blessed band in this sense. Some more recognition from the more mainstream world would be nice and totally justified but really who gives a fuck? Those who seek shall find. On this CD, the band contributes 2 covers. On Rare Bird’s "Hammerhead" the twin guitars are on fire, Jason wails on top and everything is well in metal land. A heavy version of Link Wray’s "Rumble" shows that in the end everything leads back to plain rock'n'roll. And on a surprising move, Solace go back to their Godspeed days throwing some hardcore in the mix with "Cement Stitches". Some punishing rhythms and an incredible vocal performance by Jason (his recording "swamp song"?).
Till Greatdayforup’s "Flores De Sangre" and Solace' "AD" see the light of day, this split will have to suffice for our regular head crushing.

www.greatdayforup.com
www.solacedoom.com
www.underdogma.com