Solace

Biography/History

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Solace (1996-present): a Doom Metal band from Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA.

o-called "stoner metal" heavyweights Solace emerged from their South Jersey basement as Godspeed in 1994 and entered Electric Lady Studios (built by Jimi Hendrix) to record their 'Atlantic Records' debut, Ride (1994). Featuring future Solace members Tommy Southard (guitar) and Rob Hultz (bass), Godspeed's two-year major label run included an appearance on 'Columbia Records' Nativity In Black: A Tribute To Black Sabbath compilation backing Bruce Dickinson (of Iron Maiden); their video for Houston Street was featured on MTV's Beavis and Butthead and Headbanger's Ball; and they toured the US and Europe with Black Sabbath, Dio, Sugartooth, and Cathedral.

Following stints as lead guitarist for Sugartooth and Slap Rocket, Southard re-started Godspeed in 1997 with Hultz, former Glueneck singer Jason and The Atomic Bitchwax drummer Keith Ackerman, naming the revamped outfit Solace. Further, their debut, followed in 2000 with Bill "Bixby" Belford on drums.

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Solace combined the influences of Godspeed and Glueneck with grind, psychedelic power and ferocious drumming styles. Their second album, 13 (2003) featuring John Proveaux (drums), saw the band taking their "Jimi Hendrix-meets-Soundgarden" brand of heaviness to a new level. The album included ten Solace originals and two covers. Track five, Common Cause, featured doom legend Wino (of The Obsessed/of Saint Vitus/of Spirit Caravan), a long time fan of Solace, on guest vocals and guitar.

It would be three years before the next work would emerge this time with new members Justin Daniels (guitars) and Kenny Lund (drums) for Hammerhead EP (2006). The drums would quickly be recycled to Kenny Lund (drums) for A.D. (2010). Soon after, a large section of the band vacated leaving Timmy Gitlan (drums), Justin Goins (vocals) and Mike Sica (bass) along with the remaining Southard and Justin Daniels on guitars to record The Brink (2019).