MAIRU’s Sol Cultus is not only a very immersive, textured and eclectic journey of post-metal, but the story behind its creation was so fascinating to me. A labour of love that took four years to complete, the album was one of the last to be recorded at Southport’s Vagrant Recording Studio, and then one of the very first to be recorded at new state-of-the art studio The Arch, where the album was finally completed. Sol Cultus is proof that good things come to those who wait, and I love that it is a record that was slow-cooked and fine-crafted with so many subtle details and nuances. I was so very pleased to see this challenging behemoth of a record met with many glowing and detailed reviews from critics. In particular, MAIRU were praised for their ambition, and the quality of the sound design and production was especially highlighted. I’m really proud to see that MAIRU’s painstaking efforts have been rewarded. Sadly Mairu decided to call time on the band shortly after the release of this album, so it will stand as a grand achievement.
ACCOLADES
“Jaw dropping. A band that does a phenomenal job of marrying enthralling post sounds with the filthy power of sludge.”
~ GBHBL – 10/10
“A band on form, and at one with their ethos – each element complimenting the other to perfection, creating a sonic journey of discovery unlike anything else.”
~ LiveWire – 10/10
“A stunning blend of atmosphere, sheer titanic heft, dynamics and stirring emotions. Essential for fans of cathartic, cerebral post-metal.”
~ Distorted Sound – 8/10
FROM THE PRESS KIT
Sol Cultus is a labour of love which has been perfected, crafted and savoured together by MAIRU and producer, engineer and guest performer Tom Dring (drummer of Corrupt Moral Altar), resulting in a cinematic, transcendent and richly dynamic album experience. Across an hour and eight enormous tracks, MAIRU skirt an eclectic sea of metal subgenre fusions. Sol Cultus translates as “sun worship”, and on a literal level is MAIRU’s ode to the sun that gives us life and keeps the world turning. Recurring elements of fire and solar magnitude weave through the album’s lyrics and track titles. On a deeper level, this praise of the sun becomes a metaphor for how long the quartet spent working tirelessly, grafting and breathing their passion into this album over the years, keeping their inner flame burning brightly; a solar flare bursting with energy. Sol Cultus is a challenging, consuming and foreboding record in many ways, yet one that is so rewarding to those who embark on this sonic pilgrimage; an embodiment of radiance and warmth through a world of darkness and menace. A triumph through times of intense tribulation.
Released July 28th 2023 on CD, Cassette and Digital by Trepanation Recordings.
PR TRAIL 