Sometimes things completely pass me by. I like to think of myself as generally well researched and informed in earthly on goings, but multi-instrumentalist Nate Garrett and his band Spirit Adrift are one of the aforementioned items to avert my gaze. Releasing their second album in two years Enlightened in Eternity, it’s time to do some catching up.
Spawning in 2005, out of Arizona in the land of the stars and stripes, they begun life as a doom metal outfit. This gives me a little trepidation as doom metal is not usually my bag. But never one to turn down listening to a new band my excitement is still ever-present.
Straight up not what I was expecting. Riffs galore, somewhere between thrash and power metal. Like a mix of Dio‘s Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. The vocal work sits very much in the classic heavy metal spectrum, but doesn’t feel outdated at all. Opening track Ride into the Light starts magnificently. I began smelting armour like it was pre-programmed into me during my sleeper agent training. Steller solo work on this and Astral Levitation.
I am delighted to see the bass get a proper workout on this record. Far too many records relegate the bass to a bit part play along, with no individuality. Cosmic Conquest starts with a tasty rocking and rolling bass line, introduces harmonised guitars and off you go. Harking back to a time when heavy metal was simply heavy and metal. Glorious.
The riffs don’t stop with Screaming from Beyond. Upping the pace, Harmony of Spheres gallops along on the back of twin guitars of righteous metal fire. Nothing overly complicated, displaying how the old school ways of metal past still holds clout today.
The tempo begins to slow towards the back end of the album and it loses a little momentum. As a result it doesn’t maintain the thrill. Not necessarily bad, but after the soaring work up top on the album, just feels like it wains. Final song Reunited in the Void is an 11 minute swansong that moves severely in the doom metal direction. It really doesn’t fit here as the change in pace is way to intrusive. I got bored long before it kicked up a gear after 9 minutes. Unfortunately, a poor way to close out the album.
Enlightened in Eternity is however, a very solid album. Chock full of riffs and hooks to please even the most archaic metal enthusiast. The end of the album is disappointing, but you have had way too much fun by then to care one iota. Highly recommended listening. Preferably on horseback.
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