When it comes to metal, I am interested and open to hear new styles. The style of STIGMA sparked my interest enough to want to find out more about this band. Hailing from Norway, surely, I could not go wrong here, or so I thought. Solitude 24/7 happens to be the fifth release for STIGMA. Having a revolving door of members over the years and now STIGMA is currently a two man project with main man Stig Rune Robertsen taking the reigns as guitarist, vocalist, drummer as well as handling programming duties. That leaves Endre Hindhammer on the bass and backing vocals. So onto Solitude 24/7 we march.

Whoa! At first listen my ears are completely taken aback. This is not quite what I expected coming from a band from Norway. The music is a strange mix of rock and a little bit of metal, with a progressive edge to it. The vocals are sung clean and pretty, though sometimes there is a growl here and there. Then there is strange church like choirs chiming in on some songs. Thursday, which happens to be the most bizarre song I’ve ever heard, sounds like it could be taken out of a Catholic mass, with its church organ and heavenly sounding choir, it brings up the rear with roaring guitars. There is a theme behind the album that revolves around days of the week. Most of the songs have rather up lifting messages. It is strange to hear. As interesting as the music is, sometimes it comes off as a bit cheesy. Imagine if Porcupine Tree met Yngwie Malmsteen and Lacuna Coil. Sometimes that is how the music of STIGMA sounds. STIGMA’s music has plenty of atmospheres, but sometimes the lyrics are corny. Stig is quite skilled in the ways of playing his guitar with a classical edge, at times it is his guitar work that saves this Solitude 24/7 from going down the cheese tubes. Unfortunately, Look Through My Eyes Part 2 is really pushing it with its Cher like vocal keyboard sound and re-enter the heavenly choir, and then oh no, death growls are inserted into this song, and Europe like keyboards, now I think I’ve heard the very song that is definitely a no-no in the metal world.

Not every band from Norway can be great. I am at a loss of words to describe STIGMA, they are one of the weirdest bands I have come across, hands down.