Album Review: Spirit Adrift - Ghost At The Gallows
It's your favorite heavy metal connoisseur with a silver mustache, Chern, back with another averagely-written review for a great album from the echoing halls of the Heavy Metal Citadel. Today, I'm setting my sights on Spirit Adrift's latest masterpiece, and the letter 'G' in their alphabetical oevre, 'Ghost at the Gallows'. So free your spirits and set adrift your inhibitions!
If you haven't already (and I'm 99% sure you have, right? RIGHT?), make sure to listen to our interview with Nate Garrett, the mastermind behind the band. In there, we asked Nate what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said screenwriter, much to our surprise and also his family at the time. But listening to Ghost At The Gallows, I get the cinematic experience right away as the sounds of a gentle storm lead into the first goosebumps-inducing dulcet notes of the stunning first track.
This is basically Spirit Adrift's Master of Puppets, and it is honestly one of THE BEST song the band has ever released. From the unforgettable subtly layered chorus, the clever guitar phrasing, and memorable riffs, it's got every thing that a fan of Spir- wait actually, any fan of heavy metal needs to hear.
The other major highlight is our favourite of the singles ,‘I Shall Return’, is not just a song, it's a declaration, a testament to the indomitable spirit of rock. It's an instant classic that resonates with the very essence of the genre and sends my loins on fire! The riffs are heavy, the rhythm is infectious, and the lyrics are a rallying cry for all who triumph over loss. Although we usually ride a horse cart here at the Citadel, it makes me want to buy a Chevy convertible just so I can roll down the top and drive on an Arkansas highway.
There's a strong variety in the tracks, like the brooding slow-burner, 'These Two Hands', which escalates from acoustic ballad into a glorious climax. 'Barn Burner', with its spooktacular Midnight Mass-inspired video, is a riproarer of a track, living up to its title. The crystal clear production is perfect for the dual harmonies, with former Carcass-ite Tom Draper's technical prowess drenching the tracks with a torrential rain of riffs. But really, all the performances here deliver on all fronts.
My only ding against is that the high-water mark was set so early that I wished for a similar quality in the closing title track. With its doomy meandering nature I felt it was a bit underwhelming as a finale, and lacking focus, but probably only because the material throughout was so strong already.
But it's not just about the music! The track listing reads like a heavy metal epic, with lyrics to fit. The album evokes images of dark rivers, burning barns, vengeful spirits, and ghostly gallows - a journey into grief and coming out the other side. We want to give a special shout out to the whole package itself, with the attention to detail usually reserved for tattoo artist specialising in ants.
The booklet is beautifully illustrated, and it brings to life every song in glorious beauty and yes, the classic babe from the Spirit Adrift covers makes an appearance. Check out the recent unboxing video posted by Nate himself. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and check it out. It's a tantalising glimpse into what's to come, and it's got us even more excited for the album's physical release.
It's probably the most cohesive album Nate has released in sound, visuals, and the musicians collaborating with him. As he so eloquently puts it, "Spirit Adrift's gimmick is simple: there is no gimmick." And folks, we couldn't agree more. This is pure, unadulterated metal, the kind that gets your blood pumping with chugga chugs and your head banging 'til your necks snaps like a Twix bar.
The record overall stands toe to toe with Enlightened in Eternity with future classics like ‘Give Her to the River’, ‘I Shall Return’, and ‘Barn Burner’ undoubtedly flying their way into the setlist. Grab Ghost At The Gallows on August 18 of this year. TOTAL SUPPORT!
