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Horror Rock from New York terrifies with riffs upon riffs!
Review by a new contributor, please welcome Kyle alias Mr. Gizzard from the USA in the team 🙂
Hailing from Long Island, New York, hard rock/heavy metal group Restless Spirit had me hooked from the first churning riff of their 2016 EP Harvest. The self-described “horror rock” crew shredded to the top of my personal Bandcamp rabbit hole, and followed up with a second EP and single in the buildup to their stunning debut full-length last month, Lord of the New Depression.
Restless Spirit have brewed a potent mix of the best parts of 90s heavy metal, southern rock, and doom, topped off with dynamic drums and some of the most wicked, capital r RIFFS you’ll find in the fuzzy scene.
How is the sound ?
Clocking in at about 40 minutes with nine songs, Lord of the New Depression is a cohesive slab of crossover metal with a variety of song structure and style, all held together by the almighty riff and a distinct, killer guitar tone.
A strong point of Restless Spirit’s sound is their surprisingly emotive, soaring clean vocals, which can be a rare find in the heavy underground. After short intro track Under Hellish Moon and Wailing Sky sets the brooding mood, Less Than Human gives the first taste of the vocals, and they perfectly suit the dark tone of the album. Things then really kick into gear when the steady chug of guitars and bass shifts into a winding riff that dares you not to air guitar along.
No time is wasted in getting straight to the point, and the title track and third cut delivers with a whiplash-inducing riff that still makes me grin after countless listens. Midway through the carnage, the vocals help transition to a slower, melodic breakdown, which rewards the listener with a classy heavy metal solo you just know slays live.
The rest of the album faithfully carries out the mission of death by heavy, and cuts 13 Devils Miserable Existence/Unrest are shining examples. The former gives us a Sabbath-inspired riff complete with sing-along chorus, backed up by standout drumwork and acrobatic drum fills that turn the chorus riff’s energy up to 11.
Things take a turn, however, in Miserable Existence/Unrest, giving us Restless Spirit’s version of that horror movie moment when the shit hits the fan. Screeching feedback throws you face first into an absolute barnburner, with a sharp uptick in tempo and throat-shredding growls that come with a pit slamming guarantee. Mercy comes about halfway through the chaos, though, as gears shift once more and the tempo slows. Clean vocals return and combine with soaring guitars to create a truly emotional track.
The long wait for Restless Spirit paid off, and their debut delivers a professional mix of emotion and seemingly endless RIFFS to satisfy fans across fuzzy genres.
Why is this album worth listening to?
- I repeat: the sheer number and quality of riffs is nearly overwhelming
- Strong vocals deliver an emotional performance while never distracting from the groove
In what situation you should listen to this album?
- As your own personal horror soundtrack – dim the lights and grab the Halloween decorations
Something particular to note?
Check out their first release, Tardus Mortem, from 2015 for an early version of the Restless Spirit sound with death metal vocals.
Favorite Track
Lord of the New Depression
For Fans Of
Black Sabbath, Crowbar, Down, Type O Negative, Pentagram
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