ALBUM REVIEW: Spiral Hollow – Nepthisis
“The music is dark and heart-wrenching, and pairs with cinematic visuals and storytelling,” explains NEPTHISIS lead singer Sheila Eden of the New Mexico dark/goth/industrial rockers’ debut album Spiral Hollow. The title sounds like it should be in a fairy-tale, albeit one from the Brothers Grimm. This makes sense as the band are heavily inspired by stories, although more specifically by Egyptian mythology, with their name a combination of the twin goddesses Nephthys and Isis.
Spiral Hollow comprises nine songs, and first up is Remnants Of You. Continuing the gothic fairy-tale motif, it’s a haunting opening track. Backed by a piano and sparse electronic elements, Eden‘s vocals shine, and the song’s simplicity provides a welcome break from the majority of rock music these days. On the other hand, Down Below incorporates more electronic instruments. However, the lyrics are used sparingly, allowing the music to take over. The industrial sounds are reminiscent of NINE INCH NAILS, and you probably wouldn’t have been surprised to have heard NEPTHISIS back in the 1990s.
The fairy-tale vibes continue throughout the album. There is an isolated beat that plays during Go Inside which wouldn’t feel misplaced on a horror movie soundtrack. Locked Up On This Hill tells a story of isolation, which makes sense as the album was written during the pandemic. As Eden explains, “During the pandemic, I took a deep, dark dive and unleashed my true honest, chosen sound and identity.”
Another achievement for NEPTHISIS is the fact that their sound has already been clearly decided. Many bands struggle to find this at first, and this can cause many a debut album to sound choppy and unpolished. Listening back to those albums can bring on moments of either nostalgia or make your skin crawl with awkwardness. Fortunately, that’s definitely not the case with Spiral Hollow.
The key thing about this record is the simplicity of it. The instruments are used sparingly. For example, Sovereign Cry – a haunting slow song – only uses a guitar, vocals and an electronic backing track. Most bands would go all out and throw everything into the melting pot. However, by keeping it stripped back, NEPTHISIS let the music speak for itself. Closing track Hazel Pebbles proves this point the best. The only instrument that is used is an acoustic guitar, allowing Eden‘s voice to enchant listeners everywhere. It’s a stunning end to an impressive debut.
In conclusion, Spiral Hollow is an outstanding debut album. Stripped back and haunting, Eden knows how to captivate an audience with her voice, like a siren calling sailors to land. The simplicity of the album is a daring move for a debut, however NEPTHISIS prove that quality trumps quantity. This record will delight fans both old and new, as well as those fond of bands like NINE INCH NAILS, MY BLOODY VALENTINE and HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS. Crucially, this album is surely only a sign of things to come, and NEPTHISIS are certainly a name to watch out for.
Rating: 9/10
Spiral Hollow is set for release on January 21st via Dark Iris Music.
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