And they’re back! The tiny one-man band (plus a few friends) I love, with the name I can never spell correctly. Soliloquium first darkened my iron doorstep with their 2018 sophomore outing Contemplations, impressing with a combination of early Katatonia-meets-Rapture that resulted in a nigh-irresistible melodoom sound. The brains behind the project is one Stefan Nordström, who handles vocals and guitars, and over the years he’s been aided and abetted by Jonas Bergkvist, who manned the bass. This is the first Soliloquium release without Bergkvist’s talents, and from what I can glean, Nordström brought in Henrik Ekholm (ex-Within the Fall) to play bass and Filipe Caeiro (ex-Steel Arctus) to man the kit. Staying true to the melodoom template heard on past albums, Upheaval finds Soliloquium expanding their sonic palette slightly, giving the material a deeper, more complex flavor. Soliloquium already released several gripping, mood-drenched albums that transport you to dark, melancholic headspaces, yet they still seem criminally underappreciated. Will their 6th full-length finally see them landing in more ears and on more wagging tongues?

Things kick off bigly with the 7 minutes of “Tightrope,” which is the near-perfect fusion of vintage Ghost Brigade with Viva Emptiness-era Katatonia sprinkled with bits of the almighty Rapture. It’s edgy and depressive, and heavy as hell thanks to the jangled, discordant riffs and booming death roars that fill the gaps between the melancholic trilling and weepy leads. The forlorn clean vocals (courtesy of Toni Hatakka of Hanging Garden) cut deep in a song filled to the brim with emotions. It’s a strong candidate for Song o’ the Year. “Contrarians” is nearly as good, finding the ideal balance of black, death, and melodoom sadboi sounds that tickle your negative emotions while still making you want to commit acts of random wiolence. There’s more Rapture in the DNA of the guitar work here, and that’s always a win, and the clean vocals (I assume from Stefan Nordström) are frail and a touch twee, but convey a sense of vulnerability and pain. The title track has a similar vibe to Deathwhite, rocking an extra bleak, joyless atmosphere. It’s particularly beautiful in its crippling despair as the guitar work holds you in a chilly thrall. It’s a haunting tune that will stick with you.

Unlike the last Soliloquium outing, Upheaval doesn’t lose steam on the back half. The album is consistent from start to finish with no tracks that feel like they could/should be cut. Later offering “Livsöden” is nearly 7 minutes and uses that time well to create a captivatingly atmospheric experience with plenty of twists and turns along the way. It’s one of those rare songs that gets better as it goes along, and by the end you’re left wanting MOAR. “Time Stands Still” captures the spirit and sound of Slumber’s highly underappreciated debut Fallout. It even has bits and pieces of the vintage Agalloch magic bubbling up at times. Perhaps some of that Slumber influence can be attributed to Jari Lindholm helming the mixing and mastering. As one of the folks behind Slumber as well as Enshine and Exgenesis, he knows his way around the melodoom sound better than most, and the production demonstrates that with a deep, satisfying mix. At a tight 44 minutes, there isn’t much bloat to Upheaval, even though 2 tracks exceed the 7-minute mark.

I can’t give Stefan Nordström enough credit. His death roars and blackened shrieks are as good as ever, and his singing has improved quite a bit. His guitar work across the album is impressive and creates many emotive moments that resonate deeper with each spin. He utilizes every element of sadboi melodoom that I love and slathers everything in such a heavy coat of gloom that it almost feels like too much of a grim thing. Almost. Hired gun Filipe Caeiro does a fine job on drums, bringing enough pop and propulsion to keep the listener awake, especially on the heavy, abrasive bits.

I had concerns after Famine that Soliloquium may have seen their best days, but Upheaval proves me dead wrong. This is a very good slice of melodoom that often borders on greatness. I may, in fact, come to realize that I underrated it in the fullness of time. That’s the joy of an album with real depth and layers. With winter just around the bend, Upheaval will make a spectacular companion on those snowbound days of frigid isolation. Learn to spell Soliloquium correctly and order this album.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Meuse Music
Websites: deathdoom.com | soliloquium.bandcamp.com |facebook.com/soliloquiumband
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2026

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