There’s records that come through here and we’re immediately like “YES!!!” as we’re doing the initial listen which we will then earmark in our ongoing drafts email… which doesn’t necessarily lead to a draft right away. Then the time comes to revisit when a release date inevitably sneaks up on us and we realize that we’ve gotten nothing actually done in advance. Unfortunately, that sometimes means it gets moved down the pecking order in favor of something we didn’t procrastinate on. The newest from Restless Spirit, a band that we have reviewed before (It’s true! 2021’s Blood Of The Old Gods! Read it here!), was one such victim of that scenario recently. Which sucked because we genuinely dig the shit out of Restless Spirit. But that just leads to a newer lifehack of ours: Reviewing a record close to when that artist might be coming around town to give said record a bump following the new release drop fervor while also promoting a show! Win-win! And in this case it’s an extra win because the show in question is the finale of their current tour with GOZU who will be celebrating their recent release (Which we did review on time) that also features Worshipper and Earthlore as support.
Get all that? Great! Because there’s so much more to come!
“The Burning Need” is a riveting roll out of the new record that’s equally robust and rambunctious with the way that Marc Morello and Jon Gusman’s respective Bass and Drums cathartically collide with one another as Paul Aloisio’s riveting shreds are matched by his soaring vocals. “Hallowed” is next and it’s fueled by an unrelenting percussive onslaught from Gusman from start to finish while “Red In Tooth and Claw” has monstrous melodies to match the monstrous maelstrom of sound swirling about.
“Desire Lines” gets a little trippy, hits Psych Rawk Sabbath territory during the opening before bringing another rabble rousin’ Rawk epic to fruition followed by the driving ditty that is “Desolation’s Wake” which is an unholy anthem surrounded by the most sanguine shredding. “Ember” heads off into instrumental introspective land and could easily sub for a soothing lullaby to put little ones to sleep for Metalhead fams with “Time And Distance” answering as that same toddler arising and throwing a tantrum. Gargantuan “Phantom Pain” is a glorious album ender, channeling Kyuss and many other Desert Rawk greats for a sonic odyssey delivered in movements that runs the gamut of the Restless Spirit aural arsenal across a massive eight and a half minute soundscape.
Restless Spirit is out now on Magnetic Eye Records and you can get your copy here, at the stream below OR at the show with the mighty GOZU happening on June 27th at Middle East Upstairs with Worshipper and Earthlore as support (Advance tix here). For more from Restless Spirit, hit the interwebs and find the socials located when you click here, here or here.