ALBUM REVIEW: Enlightened In Eternity – Spirit Adrift

In just four years, heavy metallers SPIRIT ADRIFT have managed to release three well-received albums as well as mainman Nate Garrett holding down a side gig in the equally excellent GATECREEPER until last year. Initially starting life as a studio project for Garrett to use as an outlet, SPIRIT ADRIFT quickly garnered themselves a following and last year’s Divided By Darkness earned itself a place atop many year end lists. With 2020 being what it is, Garrett has taken stock and opted to focus his energies solely on SPIRIT ADRIFT to write and record their fourth album, Enlightened In Eternity. 

An ode to the timelessness of classic heavy metal, Enlightened In Eternity opens with the AC/DC-meets-IRON MAIDEN galloping of Ride Into The Light, sounding for all the world initially like Thunderstruck covered by your favourite NWOBHM band. Garrett has upped his guitar playing for this record; it’s chock-full of ripping solos such as on the opener and tasteful leads such as on Astral Levitation and Cosmic Conquest. Likewise, drummer Marcus Bryant turns in a fantastic performance, driving the songs forward without rushing as well as underpinning slower sections with aplomb. Vocally SPIRIT ADRIFT are absolutely a classic heavy metal act; soaring vocal lines with hooks aplenty and just the right amount of venom to avoid turning into Swiss cheese.

Enlightened In Eternity is unapologetic about its influences and hearkening back to a simpler time. Moments like the opening bassline to Cosmic Conquest that surges into a real gallop and the rollicking, rock’n’roll snarl of Screaming From Beyond are masterclasses in how to write giant riffs and melodies without sacrificing any heaviness or attitude. 

As an album it’s a little too front-heavy; later material is overshadowed somewhat by the front half of the album. There’s some questionable moments – closer Reunited In The Void slows the pace down a bit too much even for a doom-influenced song and Garrett’s vocals don’t shine as bright here with some more strained held notes. That said, the track is also an excellent study in SPIRIT ADRIFT’s – and by extension Nate Garrett’s – influences. The track pulls not just from classic heavy metal but doom (especially of the epic variety) as well as folkier moments. It takes a very different tack from what came before without sounding out of place with the potential exception of the rather upbeat close to the song that is at odds with its slower, deliberate tempo.

Enlightened In Eternity is a heavy metal album, make no mistake of that, warts and all. The art is a scene of righteous battle, riders charging with swords held high. If all you have to go on is the artwork, it’s safe to bet that the album sounds exactly how it looks. As far as metal has come since Iommi and co. first laid hands on instruments, sometimes a blast of classic heavy metal is exactly what’s called for. That’s exactly what SPIRIT ADRIFT deliver; nothing more and nothing less. This is a tightly-executed riff-fest of an album and a ton of fun – something that’s been sorely lacking this year. 

Rating: 7/10

Enlightened In Eternity is set for release on October 16th via Century Media Records (outside North America).

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