SFTHU Quick Reviews: The Elven - "Solstice"
The Elven is a band composed of members of Spanish classic heavy rock group Saturna (Rod Tirado on bass, James Vieco on guitars and vocals, Tabatha Puig on keys, and Javi Gomez on drums) as well as guitarist Isaiah Mitchell from Californian heavy psych band Earthless. This list of personnel alone is really all you need to know to tell you that something very special will undoubtedly be created here, and that's exactly what happened. On April 3, 2025, The Elven released their debut album Solstice via Spinda Records in collaboration with Clostridium Records and Echodelick Records.
It's important to note that this album isn't quite as heavy rocking as Saturna, nor as mind-bending as Earthless, but that's not a bad thing at all in this case. Solstice is a gorgeous amalgamation of the signature sound of the two bands but softer, and perhaps even more emotionally expressive.
The album does have a foundation of retro heavy rock, much like Saturna, but it's cushioned by a healthy amount of lighter psychedelic atmospheres. For me, this created a much more soothing, touching listening experience in which I focused much more on the meaning behind each song and the feelings each generated within me.
Don't get me wrong, there are some heavier moments, such as the powerful, soaring rock tones on the album's debut single Shine and the end of fourth track New Pair of Wings. There are also some unexpected surprises, like the bluesy style used in Stand Right Next to Me, the heartland rock of Wherever I Go, and the Zeppelin/Black Crowes-esque Out the Door. Of course, I also can't fail to mention the songs Far Beyond and Closer to Freedom brought tears to my eyes as I couldn't help but feel the raw emotive delivery from both vocals and instrumentals clench at my heart.
The official music video for "Shine"
Final Thoughts
As alluded to earlier, The Elven is not an extension of Saturna, nor is it a copy of Earthless; it's not better, and it's not worse. In fact, the most impressive aspect of The Elven and their scintillating debut album is that it forges its own path, and it's not the path of least resistance by any means. Each song on Solstice has a very distinct personality, a clear message, and a heart and soul; all of which were inarguably crafted with utmost care and attention to detail. Solstice is deeply poignant, sophisticated but universal, and is certainly one of the most beautiful things that will grace your ears this year.
More About The Elven
The Elven Is:
Rod Tirado - Bass
James Vieco - Guitars, Vocals
Isaiah Mitchell - Guitars
Tabatha Puig - Keys
Javi Gomez - Drums
You can follow The Elven and listen to their music at the following links:
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