It showcases a unique sound which completely blends traditional doom and heavy metal into one. The lead guitar melodies are compact and to-the-point, with the rest of the instruments adding to the atmosphere. Contrary to the former, the shortest track on the album “Hear Her” takes a much darker approach. Moreover, the track delivers a surprising shift in tone for the final section, with classic heavy riffs taking over and reminding one of Andy LaRocque of King Diamond. From the lowest narrative notes to the high-pitch scream, the band leader delivers it with great finesse. The melancholic ballad is reminiscent of early My Dying Bride, with Nathan Garrett’s vocal delivery standing out. The longest track on the album “Angel & Abyss” takes one back to the days of 90s doom metal. There is a clear progression in the musicianship on display that is best exemplified by the title track “Divided By Darkness.” The band weaves through fast-paced guitar solos, slow melodic segments, and rhythmic instrumental parts with equal ease.ĭivided By Darkness not only proves to be the most progressive record by Spirit Adrift to date, but also the most diverse one. In the past, Spirit Adrift has often been compared against Pallbearer or Khemmis, but Divided By Darkness is a better match to the likes of Summerlands and Eternal Champion. Clean lead guitar riffs lead the way, and the thick bass and groovy drum beats drive the rhythm.
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“We Will Not Die” opens with synthesizers building up the atmosphere, but once the drums kick in, it’s a ride into the 80s. Those who have followed the band over the last four years will notice the change in trajectory right off the start. Resulting in songs that are not only original in sound, but also catchy and melodic while retaining the psychedelic doom metal elements of the previous works. Fast forward to the present and Divided By Darkness goes further into the classic heavy metal territory while keeping the tempo and atmosphere in the doom metal world. The album had delivered a solid traditional doom record in the vein of Black Sabbath, with minor flourishes of heavy metal.
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But despite such a young age, expectations were high following 2017’s sophomore effort Curse of Conception. The Phoenix-based quartet have been hard at work since their inception in 2015. Spirit Adrift hope to do the same with their third full-length Divided By Darkness. Taking this sound and molding it into their own variant has provided significant success to the likes of Pallbearer and Khemmis. One of the key ingredients to this revival has been the ability of bands to bring in traditional heavy metal influences and mix them with classic doom metal foundation. The last decade has seen a strong revival of the doom metal genre. Release date: | 20 Buck Spin | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp Spirit Adrift deliver a memorable cinematic record in Divided By Darkness, mixing traditional doom metal and old-school heavy metal into one.