Solar Temple - A Gift That Should Have Been Reserved For The Great Lights (LP)

Solar Temple's album 'A Gift That Should Have Been Reserved For The Great Lights' is an LP released in 2023 by the Dutch band Solar Temple. This record demonstrates the band's evolution from their original roots in psychedelic black metal toward an expansive sound that incorporates elements of psychedelic rock and krautrock. The album is characterized by immersive, densely layered compositions that embrace both the experimental and atmospheric sides of these genres.

The band recorded the album over several sessions spanning a few years, allowing the music to organically develop a distinct sonic character. Listeners are drawn into lengthy, meditative soundscapes marked by hypnotic repetition, sweeping textures, and ritualistic energy. The album favors intensity and atmosphere over traditional song structures, resulting in a dynamic listening experience that aligns with the project's philosophical and artistic aims.

'A Gift That Should Have Been Reserved For The Great Lights' features a small number of extended tracks. Notable among these are 'Ejaculation,' which opens the album with more than twelve minutes of intricate instrumental development, and 'Celestial Kingdom,' a mid-album centerpiece that melds soaring psychedelic passages with dark, immersive elements. Another key track is 'A Life Before Life,' closing the LP with over sixteen minutes of grand, introspective sound exploration. Each piece unfolds gradually, often blurring the boundaries between genres and blurring the lines between composition and improvisation.

Taken as a whole, the album is a testament to Solar Temple's commitment to experimentation and transcendence within their chosen musical spheres. It is recommended for listeners who appreciate ambitious long-form works where black metal's aggression merges with psychedelia's boundary-pushing ethos. The LP stands as a significant chapter in the band's discography, marking both continuity and growth in their artistic vision.