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Biography
Sol Invictus is an English neofolk and neoclassical group fronted by Tony Wakeford. Beginning with electronic experimentation combined with folk-influenced guitar work, the sound of Sol Invictus has become considerably more neoclassical over the years and has had a large amount of influence on the development of neofolk music. Wakeford has been the sole constant member of the group with since its inception, although numerous musicians have contributed and collaborated with Wakeford under the Sol Invictus monicker over the years.
Overview
Wakeford was an original member of Death In June with Douglas P.. Wakeford was asked to leave in 1984 due to his then invovelement in the British National Front. Wakeford then recorded one album of his own material as Above the Ruins, showcasing a post-punk and dark rock sound influenced by his previous work with Death In June. After taking a few years off, he returned to music and formed Sol Invictus in 1987, working with Ian Read and Karl Blake.
Wakeford has described Sol Invictus as a "cabaret band from Hell for the fin-de-siècle" and has referred to his work as folk noir. Beginning with a rough, bleak, primitive sound, the band's music gradually evolved toward a lush, refined style, picking up classically-trained players such as Eric Roger, Matt Howden, and Sally Doherty. In the mid-1990's, Sol Invictus spun off a side project called l'Orchestre Noir to explore an even more classically-influenced direction.
Etymology
The name Sol Invictus derives from a pre-Christian Rome-based cult whose Latin name means "the unconquered sun": see Sol Invictus for details. Wakeford chose the name because "The sun has always been an important symbol and as the cult of Sol Invictus nearly defeated Christianity at one point it seemed a good name to use. I also love the sound of Latin."
Imagery
The band's imagery and lyrical content, especially in its early days, was strongly influenced by radical traditionalism and antipathy towards the modern world and materialism. A particular influence was the Italian philosopher Julius Evola—indeed, the title of the band's first LP, Against the Modern World, is an allusion to Evola's work Revolt Against the Modern World—and the song "Amongst the Ruins" takes its name from Evola's Men Among the Ruins.
The band also has considerable interest in heathen and Mithraist themes, often reflecting an explicit antipathy to Christianity: the 1997 album The Blade incorporates an Odinic chant, Gealdor, into its varied laments. Wakeford tends to write from a melancholic position of doomed Romanticism, which laments the loss of beauty, love, and culture. He sees the American influence on global culture as very damaging to Europe, something he expresses with black humour in the song "Death of the West", from the album of the same name.
Sol Invictus album artwork has often showcased the expressionist paintings of American artist Tor Lundvall.
Discography
- Against The Modern World (LP) L.A.Y.L.A.H. Antirecords 1987
- ????! (12") Yangki 1989
- In The Jaws Of The Serpent (LP) S.V.L. Records 1989
- Sol Veritas Lux (CD) S.V.L. Records 1990
- The Summer Of Love (7") Cerne 1990
- Trees In Winter (CD) Tursa 1990
- Trees In Winter (LP) Tursa 1990
- Untitled (3xLP) Cerne 1990
- See The Dove Fall (7") Shock (UK) 1991
- The Killing Tide (CD) Tursa 1991
- The Killing Tide (LP) Tursa 1991
- Frankfurt Sound Depot 24-03-1991 (CD) World Serpent 1992
- King & Queen (CD) Tursa 1992
- Let Us Prey (CD) Tursa 1992
- Looking For Europe (7", S/Sided) World Serpent 1992
- Lex Talionis (CD) Tursa 1993
- Black Europe (CD, Album) World Serpent 1994
- The Death Of The West (CD) Tursa 1994
- In The Rain (CD) Tursa 1995
- The Blade (CD) Tursa 1997
- All Things Strange And Rare (CD) Tursa 1998
- In Europa (CD) Tursa 1998
- All Things Strange And Rare (CD) Tursa 1999
- In A Garden Green (CD) Tursa 1999
- Eve (7") Tursa 2000
- The Hill Of Crosses (CD) Tursa 2000
- The Hill Of Crosses (LP) Tursa 2000
- Trieste (CD) Tursa 2000
- Brugge (CD) Tursa 2001
- The Blade (LP) Tursa 2002
- Thrones (CD) Tursa 2002
- Thrones (LP) Tursa 2002
- The Giddy Whirls Of Centuries (2xCD) Tursa 2003
- The Angel (CD) Tursa 2004
- Writ In Water (CD, Maxi) PREcordings 2004
- The Devil's Steed (CD) Dark Vinyl Records, Tursa 2005
- A Mythological Prospect Of The Citie Of Londinium (CD) Cold Spring 2006
- Sol Veritas Lux (CD) Tursa, Dark Vinyl Records 2006
- Sol Veritas Lux (CD) Tursa, Strange Fortune 2006