I can be certain that I am reviewing the final album from a band with this one…
Spirit Adrift “surprised” dropped their sixth and final record, Infinite Illumination, confirming that it will be the last trek in the journey of the beloved Texas metal band. Let’s not get into why, let’s just bask in the glory that is the swansong for a band who has pretty much done no wrong in their recording career. This continues with the eight killer tracks that make up Infinite Illumination.
There is both an urgency and a sadness to Infinite Illumination. Those who know some of the stuff surrounding Nathan Garrett may have some idea why. There is also a light of hope as well that comes through on these songs, creating a contrast that puts this record on another plane. Of course the riffs are there, like on the opening title track, which also has a killer mid tempo gallop to it, seemingly referencing all of the classics in under eight minutes.
Spirit Adrift “surprised” dropped their sixth and final record, Infinite Illumination, confirming that it will be the last trek in the journey of the beloved Texas metal band. Let’s not get into why, let’s just bask in the glory that is the swansong for a band who has pretty much done no wrong in their recording career. This continues with the eight killer tracks that make up Infinite Illumination.
There is both an urgency and a sadness to Infinite Illumination. Those who know some of the stuff surrounding Nathan Garrett may have some idea why. There is also a light of hope as well that comes through on these songs, creating a contrast that puts this record on another plane. Of course the riffs are there, like on the opening title track, which also has a killer mid tempo gallop to it, seemingly referencing all of the classics in under eight minutes.
The layered vocals when the pace slows stops you in your tracks, as the emotion coming from this one is palpable. More riffs start Widow Within, keeping the tempo the same but bringing more ferocity in the guitar and the vocals. There is a grungy feel to this one, paired with the dual metal guitars, creating this excellent mash up of genres that does not always work, but sure does here.
The vocals stand out on You Will Never Hold The Key, as the urgency/anguish comes through hard. We know Garrett is a big Type O fan, and it is pretty evident with this song. Riffs come spilling out of Born In A Bad Way, a three minute stomp that may be my favourite track on the record. Buried In The Shadow Of The Cross has my favourite riff on the record and is the most trad doom track on her, executed perfectly.
White Death has this cool, old school thrash metal feel to it, in vibe if not in velocity, while I Am Sustained continues the Type O/trad doom approach that works so well on Infinite Illumination. Then there is Where Once There Was An Ocean to close out the journey of Spirit Adrift. Big, heavy, emotional, and exactly the way this record and this band should have come to an end.
A lot of people will miss Spirit Adrift. I know I will. Sometimes life brings things more important than what us fans care about, but for Garrett and company to go out giving us the gift of Infinite Illumination is more than anyone could ask for. 9/10
Slomosa - Live In Bergen (Apollon Records) [Rich Piva]
We don’t get enough good live records these days. Norwegian Tundra Rock band Slomosa is here to change that, with an exclusive Record Store Day release of Live In Bergren, a double live album capturing the band’s sold-out hometown show in December 2024 at Verftet in all of their wonderful, heavy, and harmonious glory.
Slomosa is one of the real breakout bands in the “heavy underground rock” arena, which here in the USA is not so easy to do for “stoner rock” or whatever you want to call it. But some cool opening tour spots, like the trek they did with Helmet, gave the band some next level exposure that has them quite the trendy name to mention in certain circles. They deserve it too, because their two studio records are both awesome, and they sure do bring the energy live if Live In Bergen is what they deliver in that setting.
We get 15 great songs from Slomosa, which is most of their catalog, considering they have only been a band for a short amount of time, relatively speaking. The band sounds great, seem happy to be playing to their hometown crowd, and really brings it across the 15 tracks. Highlights include Psykonaut, Red Thundra, and a seven-plus minute version of Scavengers, which closes out the set perfectly, but really the whole thing is killer and absolutely worth your time.
I have not been lucky enough to see Slomosa live, but if Live In Bergen is any indication, I really need to figure out a way to ASAP. Go order the limited vinyl and blast some live Tundra Rock to keep cool during the upcoming summer months. Don’t tell me there are no good live albums when we have Live In Bergen. 8/10
Demons My Friends - Survive/Yourself (Ripple Music)
Ripple Music picked up the debut record from Austin/Mexico City band Demons My Friends and gave it a much warranted and appreciated wider release, given the debut from the band is a killer blend of stoner, grunge, doom, and some other heavy surprises, Todd was left with no choice but to bring it to more ears. Not long after, we get the new record from DMF, titled Survive/Yourself, where the band doubles down on leveraging the 90s Seattle sound combined with their own interpretation of heavy, which comes across great over the eight tracks.
The opener, The Theory Of Change, has all of that above including the riffs, the layered, AIC styled vocals, and even a creepy child at the end of the track to keep up the Demon vibe. There is a messy quality to DMF which is meant as a complement. They seem to not strive for the perfect sound or take, but for the one that feels the best. I hear that on Last Dance, where you get some 90s, dark alt rock with harmonized vocals and a big Rain When I Die kind of bridge. Cool stuff.
A lot of people will miss Spirit Adrift. I know I will. Sometimes life brings things more important than what us fans care about, but for Garrett and company to go out giving us the gift of Infinite Illumination is more than anyone could ask for. 9/10
Slomosa - Live In Bergen (Apollon Records) [Rich Piva]
We don’t get enough good live records these days. Norwegian Tundra Rock band Slomosa is here to change that, with an exclusive Record Store Day release of Live In Bergren, a double live album capturing the band’s sold-out hometown show in December 2024 at Verftet in all of their wonderful, heavy, and harmonious glory.
Slomosa is one of the real breakout bands in the “heavy underground rock” arena, which here in the USA is not so easy to do for “stoner rock” or whatever you want to call it. But some cool opening tour spots, like the trek they did with Helmet, gave the band some next level exposure that has them quite the trendy name to mention in certain circles. They deserve it too, because their two studio records are both awesome, and they sure do bring the energy live if Live In Bergen is what they deliver in that setting.
We get 15 great songs from Slomosa, which is most of their catalog, considering they have only been a band for a short amount of time, relatively speaking. The band sounds great, seem happy to be playing to their hometown crowd, and really brings it across the 15 tracks. Highlights include Psykonaut, Red Thundra, and a seven-plus minute version of Scavengers, which closes out the set perfectly, but really the whole thing is killer and absolutely worth your time.
I have not been lucky enough to see Slomosa live, but if Live In Bergen is any indication, I really need to figure out a way to ASAP. Go order the limited vinyl and blast some live Tundra Rock to keep cool during the upcoming summer months. Don’t tell me there are no good live albums when we have Live In Bergen. 8/10
Demons My Friends - Survive/Yourself (Ripple Music)
Ripple Music picked up the debut record from Austin/Mexico City band Demons My Friends and gave it a much warranted and appreciated wider release, given the debut from the band is a killer blend of stoner, grunge, doom, and some other heavy surprises, Todd was left with no choice but to bring it to more ears. Not long after, we get the new record from DMF, titled Survive/Yourself, where the band doubles down on leveraging the 90s Seattle sound combined with their own interpretation of heavy, which comes across great over the eight tracks.
The opener, The Theory Of Change, has all of that above including the riffs, the layered, AIC styled vocals, and even a creepy child at the end of the track to keep up the Demon vibe. There is a messy quality to DMF which is meant as a complement. They seem to not strive for the perfect sound or take, but for the one that feels the best. I hear that on Last Dance, where you get some 90s, dark alt rock with harmonized vocals and a big Rain When I Die kind of bridge. Cool stuff.
The opening riff rules on Star Child, and I love the addition of the aggressive vocals to the mix. There is an STP but heavier vibe to this one. Kalorma doubles down on the layered, harmonized vocals, creating their biggest sounding song on the album, and probably my favourite. Starting off slow then getting chunky, We All End Up Here is another stand out on this one.
Brain Holographics is an interesting one, that shows you can be heavy, catchy, have harmonized whoos, then break into a black mental scream from hell while the band rips it up around you. Smile is Soundgarden worship to start, think Face Pollution, until you get dragged to hell, then pop your head back up. This one is all over the place and that is fine by me. Isolate closes with another killer riff and is a dark heavy rocker that fits its name and closes out the record nicely.
Demons My Friends seem to really be starting to get their sound, Big riffs, harmonized vocals, Seattle worship, and some parts that bring the ultra heavy when you least expect it. Survive/Yourself is an excellent sophomore effort that shows even more promise from the band. 8/10
Occult Hand Order - Meaningless Monuments (Totem Cat Records)
Heavy, atmospheric post rock psych is what the new record from Occult Hand Order is about. There are stoner and grunge elements as well, but the first word I think of when I hear Meaningless Monuments is big. The Second is atmospheric. The third is excellent.
Over the five tracks, you get excellent vocals, killer, wall of sound, heavy shoegaze guitar, and a super tight rhythm section that drives the songs. Błędów, the opener, is all of this, and even some screams from hell about half way through, before everything chills out again. This one goes in a bunch of directions, with surprises around every turn.
Demons My Friends seem to really be starting to get their sound, Big riffs, harmonized vocals, Seattle worship, and some parts that bring the ultra heavy when you least expect it. Survive/Yourself is an excellent sophomore effort that shows even more promise from the band. 8/10
Occult Hand Order - Meaningless Monuments (Totem Cat Records)
Heavy, atmospheric post rock psych is what the new record from Occult Hand Order is about. There are stoner and grunge elements as well, but the first word I think of when I hear Meaningless Monuments is big. The Second is atmospheric. The third is excellent.
Over the five tracks, you get excellent vocals, killer, wall of sound, heavy shoegaze guitar, and a super tight rhythm section that drives the songs. Błędów, the opener, is all of this, and even some screams from hell about half way through, before everything chills out again. This one goes in a bunch of directions, with surprises around every turn.
Brno starts out menacingly, like a horror movie where, at some point, someone is getting murdered, but just not yet. The vocals are great and the build up to the heavy is excellent. OHO understands the build, that is for sure. Lots of twists and turns in the one too, which is a theme for Meaningless Monuments. I like how it gets chunky at the end and that post rock guitar kicks in.
The quiet to loud build rules the day on Mollerussa, and they certainly get it, saving that killer psych guitar and heaviest parts for the back end of the track. Novo Mesto continues the overall vibe, but the post rock heaviness and screams are a bit more prevalent. Also when they almost go all black metal on us, just for a minute though. Gerlach is the closer, and the most straightforward (for them) track on the record, but there is nothing predictable about Occult Hand Order, so you know it still has some cool twists and turns.
The songs are long and not so straight forward, so be in for a journey on the new Occult Hand Order album. If you do, you will be rewarded with a tight sounding, soft to heavy, quiet to loud and back again experience driven by great vocals and killer psych/shoegaze guitar work. Meaningless Monuments takes you all over but never anywhere you don’t want to be. 8/10
The songs are long and not so straight forward, so be in for a journey on the new Occult Hand Order album. If you do, you will be rewarded with a tight sounding, soft to heavy, quiet to loud and back again experience driven by great vocals and killer psych/shoegaze guitar work. Meaningless Monuments takes you all over but never anywhere you don’t want to be. 8/10
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