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SÖLICITÖR
Enemy In Mirrors

Gates Of Hell (2025)
Rating: 8/10

In 2020 these Seattle, Washington-based metallers released one of my favourite thrash debuts of the last few decades. Spectral Devastation was just a killer album from front to back, so when I heard that the clan were back with a sophomore I could hardly contain the dribble!

Enemy In Mirrors, like its predecessor, is another winner which whips its audience up into a frenzy and leaves them ragged. Sölicitör are, without doubt, one of the best thrash acts out there. Somehow breathing new life into the genre, yet without doing anything new, the mob sizzles with energy and force.

Taking the strident glory of Iron Maiden or Judas Priest certainly isn’t original and in many instances it’s quite dull and generic, but in the case of Sölicitör it’s downright electrifying. Lacing their metallic fury with a speed metal powder is one thing, but transforming such an operation into something deadly is another matter. The success is due to the chemistry of all band members present; the guitar assault of Matt Vogan and Patrick Fry, the bass of Damon Cleary-Erickson, the drums of Johann Waymire, and the vocals of Amy Lee Carlson.

There are a lot of speedy segments to navigate upon first listen, but once you’re entangled in the steely web, one cannot help but thrash along. Although the debut was so impressive there are a few important improvements here, particularly in the production resulting in the guitars sounding tight. Secondly, Amy’s vocals are even more potent, providing a central punch to the attack of the band.

The strong flecks of U.S. power metal become even stronger with a song such as ‘Crimson Battle Beast’. This track, alongside ‘We Who Remain’, is masculine and confrontational, and yet even with the glint of steel and speed metal tightness there’s something a touch more progressive this time. The combo seems more attuned and focused, charging headlong into the ear canals with the superb ‘Paralysis’ which fuses Judas Priest and Sanctuary. The drums are hard and fast, the guitars rich with vigour and the bass provides extra steel.

Amy leads the gang through another eight tracks, all of which vary from melodious mid-paced chugs (‘Iron Wolves Of War’) to New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-styled gallops (‘Fallen Angel’) and Gothic, grandiose pounding (‘Spellbound Mist’). There’s a lot of good, engaging stuff here, Amy’s vocals such a rich wave of power which lead the band into Metal Church territory and on the fringes of thrash.

Enemy In Mirrors is not an outright ferocious album, but it’s one which shows a progression and maturity, especially with the last two tracks, ‘Black Magick & The Devil’s Hand Pt I’ and ‘Black Magick & The Devil’s Hand Pt II’, and if anything the core element to the Sölicitör sound is 80s U.S. power metal with thrashy outbursts. If anything, the band belongs in that Metal Church, Vicious Rumors box. A fine return then from Sölicitör and a release which I hope firmly puts them on the metal ma.

Neil Arnold

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