The follow-up to El Cacos debut album ”Viva” was in the making for about two years and they continue where they left off, with a sound which is both melodic and very heavy. There’s a brutal atmosphere in the first song ”Marionette” which consists more of raw power than than melody and speed. A nice track to get you going. The next track ”The small hours” is also pretty driven in a mid tempo stoned like atmosphere with a real great garage sounding guitar. I hadn’t met El Caco before listening to this album, but I’m already hooked. The good sound of ”The small hours” continues into ”H.A.H” and if they continues down this road, there’s no telling where we’re going end up.

“A Nice Day” reminds me a little bit about “Marionette”. It’s the same brutal and monotonous rhythm where the singer reminds me of Lenny Wolf from Kingdom Come.  Not that they have the same voice, but something’s there and then you can always use it as a guide for Øyvind Osas qualities in front if a microphone and I think he’s doing a real good job.

“Space Station”, “Please Be Sad”, “No Regrets and “Suffocate” is the perfect end to a great album. Good vocal, good guitar, good base and good drums - good album all the way through. Not much else can be said.

The recording of this album has been in the very capable hands of “Dug-Out Productions” and Daniel Bergstrand, which also has been working with Meshuggah and In Flames. Together they have ensured a through and through great sound, which hopefully will continue in a long line of new albums.

“Blind No more” has a funny skipping rhythm which turns out to last through the number. A little like jungle drums and I can easily imagine the whole tribe of cannibals dancing around the fire before going to war. Compared to the previous 4 tracks, this one is fairly quiet which is a nice chance to catch your breath. As it turns out later, you’ll get plenty of chances to use your energy.

“Mrs. Coma” is the albums second low tempo track, actually a ballad and you really get the opportunity to get a closer listen to the vocal qualities of Øyvind Osa.

El Caco is a lot like Backyard Babies, Tool, Monster Magnet, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. If it wasn’t because I knew they’re from Norway, I’d guessed they were from somewhere on the American West coast, like Seattle because that’s what they sounds like and I think they’re doing a real nice job. Norway has got a load of good bands, also some who’s got a much heavier sound than El Caco, but I think they have the best chance for an international career. If they don’t reach far, all sense has gone out the door.

The small cool off break in the music ends where the song “Get Up” begins. A real pounder and yet again Øyvind Osas qualities as a singer takes center stage. He’s got one hell of a long ROAR and I wonder where he gets the breath from. The stoner sound is still there, it has become better and I’m all warmed up with the first six tracks. I am ready to go out a buy the next album, whenever it is scheduled for release.

Asbjørn Slettemark fra Bergens Tidende is commenting:

Norwegian El Caco has grown a lot as a group since the debut album “Viva” which came out two years ago. “Solid Rest” has followed those ideas, but also Black Sabbath, Stoner Rock, Queens of the Stone Age and Clutch. Inside this framework El Caco, the songwriters has jumped leaps and bounds.

I have to agree with the guy. El Caco has got it going for them. They’re in a musical niche where you cannot compromise and where handling a guitar is a quality and a absolute must. The only thing I could have wished is, that the album was a bit longer. I wasn’t full when the album was over, but you can always take another serving which I think I’ll do.