It took eleven years for the fertile cybernetic soil of SAMAEL's garden to grow the seeds of Passage on the fertilizer of Exodus. And the harvest turned out splendid! Now let me try to explain differently — for those not in the know who didn't catch my metaphors. In reality, it's quite simple. After the not entirely successful flirtation with electronic samples and synthetics on "Reign Of Light" (2004) and the experiments of "Era One & Lesson In Magic #1" (2006) (which I frankly consider just a solo project by Xy), SAMAEL decided to return to the groundwork laid on the best albums of their second creative period — "Passage" (1996) and "Eternal" (1999). Moreover, on On The Rise you can even hear echoes of the Swiss band's black metal past, something not heard from SAMAEL since "Ceremony of Opposites" (1994).
Quite curious is the interrelation between the lyrical concept, the musical, and the visual components of "Solar Soul." While the lyrics revolve around space and everything related to it, the musical intonations carry Eastern flavor (Slavocracy, Western Ground, Quasar Waves), and the booklet is filled with images of ancient Roman history (the Colosseum, amphorae, laurel wreaths). More precisely, this interrelation is not so much curious as simply baffling — at least to me personally. SAMAEL also didn't forget (though most likely this was a push from Nuclear Blast, with whom the Swiss began collaborating this year) the fashionable trend of inviting guests for the recording — on the track Suspended Time, TRISTANIA fans will happily recognize the voice of Vibeke Stene. Overall, the album was a pleasant surprise and delight, and it can now be confidently recommended to all fans of the band who wrote the group off after 1999. The comeback has happened!
P.S. The russian edition was a nice bonus with its exclusive bonus track Architect.