Of course, we're not here to reminisce over the good old days; this isn't a review of _Christ Illusion_, after all. But given their legacy, one can't argue that Samael have cut themselves a fairly thick switch by claiming that their eighth and latest full-length is the greatest thing they've put their name to. The trouble with _Solar Soul_ isn't that the band have delivered a stinker; far from it in fact. The densely layered onslaught of "Slavocracy" and militant stomp of "Valkyries Ride" pack as hefty a punch as anything they've put out in the last few years. Where it all falls flat is that after a thrilling comeback in 2004's _Reign of Light_, Samael seem to have found themselves at a creative crossroads of sorts, unsure of what to do next and not confident enough to try anything new. The result is a capable, even entertaining opus, which more often than not is also hopelessly formulaic, lacking the longevity which typifies the finest hours in the band's back catalogue.