solstice

Storied miami death/thrashers solstice have waited 12 years for the release of new album Casting the Die. Spearheaded by guitarist Dennis Munoz (Iniquitous) and drummer Alex Marquez (ex-Malevolent Creation), Solstice slowly, yet methodically picked up the pieces with the recruitment of then-16-year-old phenom Ryan Taylor (ex-Condition Critical) and bass maestro Marcel Salas (Cyst) in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Surreptitiously, the reconfigured lineup wrote and recorded Casting the Die, finishing up before Munoz relocated to San Antonio, where he headquartered his new Synergy Sound Studios. Casting the Die’s aggro death was then tweaked, mixed and completed by Munoz in 2018. Ever since, Solstice have bided their time while also searching for the right label partner. ¶ “We hadn’t really been an active band [since 2009’s] To Dust,” says Munoz. “Members lived in different areas. Members were not able to commit to touring, etc., until Ryan came into the fold in 2013. After he joined, we had just been focusing on getting the band on the road finally, and getting the band out there for the fans that had been waiting a long time to see us,

and to finally give the band the attention it deserved in general.”

That’s exactly what happened. Over the course of several years, Solstice performed in the States— delivering a raucous Maryland Deathfest XIII appearance—and across Europe’s festival circuit. A split with Russia-based Cist also surfaced in support of new activity on Unspeakable Axe Records. With Taylor (and then Salas) in the band, songwriting sessions were fruitful. Together, the band completed Casting the Die closer “Scratch” first, which features original guitarist/vocalist Rob Barrett and friend/bass wizard Tony Choy. From there, Solstice put together 10 more songs—from the galloping savagery of “The Altruist” to the severely staccato “Outlast”— that were more in line sonically with the band’s unsung gems from the Steamhammer era.

“Casting the Die is definitely more akin to the first two albums’ sound and style, as opposed to To Dust,” Munoz says. “There are some fresh elements on this new one that weren’t overly prevalent in the past, such as Marcel’s bass playing. You’ll actually find some nice slap parts on here, and something else that wasn’t done too much before that you’ll find on the new one is the trade-off solos—a lot of Munoz/ Taylor action going on.”

As underground hordes feverishly await Casting the Die, they’ll also wholeheartedly hail the official reissue of Solstice’s back catalog—including the band’s Demo 1991—on new label Emanzipation Productions. Additionally, the group is planning to release its firstever live album, from their Gebr. de Nobel gig in Leiden, Netherlands. But until then, they’re weathering the COVID-19 storm, waiting for their chance to bring their famed death/thrash to metalheads the world over. —CHRIS DICK