SOL INVICTO (Deftones/Cypress Hill) Release Full 21-Minute Version of ‘Initium’ Featuring Zach Hill

Sol Invicto, the genre-blurring project featuring Richie Londres, Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), and Eric Bobo (Cypress Hill), have released their experimental EP Initium in its full, originally intended 21-minute form. The release—now available via Bandcamp—marks the first time the unedited version of the track has been made publicly available.

Originally conceived in 2011 and privately shared in an abridged form with the band’s fan club, this newly unveiled version restores the piece’s raw vision, showcasing a powerful collaboration with Zach Hill (Death Grips, Hella).

Sol Invicto shared the following statement on the re-release and the story behind it:

“‘Initium‘ is the first experimental chapter of Sol Invicto, born from Richie Londres’ desire to forge a new sound he describes as ‘twisted cinematic metal.’ As the cornerstone of the band’s early EP series, it represents the genesis of a project that blends metal, industrial, and electronic influences.

This release presents ‘Initium‘ in its pure, original form—raw, unfiltered, and free of polished production frills, as Londres intentionally avoids high-end studio sheen to preserve a human, authentic feel. Distinct from the edited version shared privately with fans, this is the first time ‘Initium‘ has been officially released.

For Londres, a lifelong non-conformist, ‘Initium‘ is a deeply personal work, reflecting his resistance to an industry that often preys on the creative mind and seeks to control its outcome.

In a heartfelt message to Richie, a mother shared an extraordinary story about her six-year-old son, Jack, who lived with high-sensory autism and physical disabilities. Jack was unable to tolerate audio stimulation, and his dentist visits required extreme measures: lights off, no radio, no sound, to make the environment bearable.

During one visit, a receptionist—a Sol Invicto fan—accidentally left ‘Initium‘ playing. What followed was a miracle. Jack, who had never smiled in his life, not only tolerated the music but engaged with it, tapping along to the rhythms, humming, and, astonishingly, smiling for the first time, leaving his mother and the dental staff in tears.

Remarkably, Jack exclusively connected with Londres’ work, including his Spanish hip-hop projects and distorted solo industrial efforts, but, curiously, did not respond to Deftones’ music. This moment marked a profound breakthrough for Jack, revealing the unique power of Londres’ sound to reach him in ways nothing else could. Tragically, Jack has since passed away, and he was laid to rest with a copy of Sol Invicto’s music, a testament to its impact.

Jack’s mother’s testimony meant more to Londres than any Grammy or award ever could. In a cold and heartless industry that exploits and controls creativity, her message gave him a reason to carry on.

As a non-conformist who has always rejected mainstream pressures, Londres realized he was not making music for himself but for a higher calling—to create art that connects, heals, and transforms lives.

This release of ‘Initium‘ is dedicated to Jack’s memory and his family, honoring the miraculous connection they shared and the purpose they inspired in Londres’ work.”

With the full version of Initium now available, fans can experience the unfiltered vision that launched Sol Invicto’s experimental journey over a decade ago.

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