With the release of their sophomore album Curse of Conception, Arizona doom act Spirit Adrift find themselves on 20 Buck Spin, a good place to be as they seek to get their music in the hands of hungry metal fans worldwide. Engineered and mixed by Sanford Parker (Yob, Pelican, Eyehategod) and featuring artwork by Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Magic Circle, Autopsy), Curse of Conception is instantly an eye-opening package, as the opening acoustic guitar of "Earthbound" intrigues the senses before the massive crunch of the riffs grabs you by the throat and never lets go. The title track follows, and the heaviness continues, as vintage Candlemass mixes with St. Vitus stomp, the riffs from Nate Garrett and Jeff Owens thick and meaty, while Nate's vocals soar over the top. It's not all about pounding doom however, as on this amazing title cut there are some great dual guitar solos (Thin Lizzy/Wishbone Ash fans take notice) as well as intricate drumming and some lovely lead bass lines. The acoustic guitar returns for the intro to "To Fly On Broken Wings", eventually giving way to some pounding rhythms and more distorted riff-o-rama, while the more atmospheric "Starless Age (Enshrined)" offers a slightly bluesy edge to their monstrous attack. Here and there you get sprinkles of Bay Area thrash, a touch of grunge, but for the most part it's majestic doom with a healthy dollop of '70s styled proto-metal, as on the glorious "Spectral Savior" and crunch laden closer "Onward, Inward".
There's some crushing sounds coming from Phoenix, Arizona folks, so make sure you put Spirit Adrift and their new release Curse of Conception on your immediate radar.
Track Listing
1. Earthbound 07:22
2. Curse Of Conception 06:17
3. To Fly On Broken Wings 05:17
4. Starless Age (Enshrined) 05:51
5. Graveside Invocation 05:04
6. Spectral Savior 07:15
7. Wakien 03:12
8. Onward, Inward 06:29