Sol Invictus (group)

After the dissolution of his controversial project called “Above the Ruins,” ^[1] Wakeford returned to the music scene with Sol Invictus in 1987. Since then, many musicians have performed in the group, including Sarah Bradshaw, Nick Hall, Celine Marle Bardot, Natalie Van Keymeilen, Ian Reid and Karl Blake. ^[2]

Biography has repeatedly called his work folk noir . Initially, a mixture of rude, dark, primitive post-punk sounds and acoustic / folk elements predominated in his works. Then the band’s music gradually evolved towards a lush, sophisticated style when Wakeford began collaborating with classical musicians like Eric Roger, Matt Howden and Sally Doherty. In the mid-1990s, Sol Invictus spawned a side project called “L'Orchestre Noir” (later renamed “Orchestra Noir”), which traces even more the influence of the classical musical direction. In 2005, the group changed its positions: Roger and Blake left it, and Caroline Jago, Leslie Malone and Andrew King took their place.

In 1990, Wakeford founded his own label, Tursa, ^[1] to release both his own materials and the music of other musicians. Previously, Wakeford records were distributed worldwide by The World Serpent Distribution Company, ^[3] followed by Cold Spring Records. In July 2007, Wakeford's label was re-launched in partnership with Israeli producer and musician Reeve "M" Malka. In 2009, Sol Invitus signed to Prophecy Records. In June 2011, Sol Invitus announced the termination of their partnership with Cold Spring Records and musician Andrew King. ^[four]

The name Sol Invictus is a Latin expression and means “invincible sun”. Comes from a Roman cult with the same name .

The image of the group and lyrics, in the early days of creativity, were influenced by the philosophy of traditionalism and antipathy in relation to the modern world. Superficial interest was also shown in the Italian philosopher Julius Evola , from whom Wakeford, by his own admission, “stole without a twinge of conscience” the names for the songs, although he found his books “unreadable”. The poet Ezra Pound had a more serious influence: “I think Pound is one of the greatest poets of all time, although some of his works are simply breathtakingly incomprehensible. I do not agree with his anti-Semitism, but this should not detract from his talents in the eyes of people, ”said Wakeford. ^[five]

The group also previously showed great interest in Mithraism and German neopaganism, which was often associated with a clear antipathy to Christianity: for example, the 1997 album The Blade includes a track called Gealdor , in which Odin is chanted. Wakeford, as a rule, wrote texts with an atmosphere of romanticism : they feel melancholy and doomed, often touched on topics such as the withering of beauty , the fading of love and human culture . The musician believed that American influence on world culture is very dangerous for Europe : this idea, in the style of black humor , he expresses in the song "Death of the West" from the album under the same name. In later albums, however, one can already observe a turn to a change in such sentiments, as the interest in what Wakeford himself called "automatic-reflex anti-Americanism and anti-Christian mood" came to naught.

The Sol Invictus album covers are often adorned with expressionist paintings by American artist and musician Thor Landwall, with whom Wakeford is on friendly terms.

In the mid-1980s, after Wakeford joined the British National Front ^[6] and the appearance of his band Above The Ruins in the No Surrender compilation ! Released in 1985 by Rock-O-Rama Records, along with tracks from Nazi bands Skrewdriver and Brutal Attack, ^[1] Sol Invictus were accused of supporting neo-fascism . ^[7] Wakeford repeatedly responded to this criticism, stating that his membership of the National Front "was probably the worst decision in my life, which I am very sorry", ^[8] and that many members of his group (including his wife, with whom they had been together for eight years at that time) “will at best become objects of discrimination, and at worst, they will be dead if the ultra-right party comes to power” . He also claimed that “none of the musicians I work with adheres to such views, and I doubt that they would want to work with me if they knew that I adhered to them.” ^[9] In June 2011, Wakeford, after attempting to disrupt one of his concerts in London, ^[10] stated that all members of the group “are personally fully and unconditionally opposed to fascism, racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia, [...] and our performances are not any attempts to appeal to an audience that is looking for the appropriate message. ” He also unequivocally pointed out that the musicians have "neither any sympathy for national anarchism , nor the desire to work with its supporters." ^[four]

• Sol Invictus on Myspace

Reviews

• Review of The Devil's Steed album
• The Angel Review
• Review of Sol Veritas Lux album

Interview

• Interview with Tony Wakeford 2006