EP REVIEW: Forge Your Future – Spirit Adrift
Still fresh-faced in the world of heavy metal, SPIRIT ADRIFT have released an impressed amount of material. The quantity of albums and EP releases are enough to match some of their more established co-metallers in the scene, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Having released their debut album, Chained To Oblivion, in 2016, the band are now four albums deep, with their latest, Enlighted In Eternity, having only been released last year. Now the Arizonan band are ready to unleash more of their groove-fuelled metal into the world with EP number three, Forge Your Future.
SPIRIT ADRIFT are known for their more 80s/classic heavy metal vibes, and title track Forge Your Future shows that this record is in no way going to stray from their trusty path. With IRON MAIDEN-like riffs and vocal melody lines, not to mention the hints of DIO and a tinge of JUDAS PRIEST creeping through the cracks as well, it feels reminiscent of when NWOBHM lit up the world and changed the course of rock and metal forever.
For all of the riffs, bass grooves, vocal lines and drum patterns that may sound heavily influenced by some of the classic favourites that shaped heavy metal forever, there’s still a huge element of the band having their own style. This mostly comes from SPIRIT ADRIFT‘s founder, Nate Garrett, and the fact that they are predominantly the main song-writer, but there are certain things that have followed the band’s sound since day one that instantly make them recognisable. Whether it’s the vocals that sound a little more doom-laden than your typical traditional heavy metal styles, or the grand character confidence which makes them aware that they can have all generations of metal fans in the palm of their hands, Forge Your Future proves to be another stepping stone in the band’s career.
If anything, the EP title is apt for SPIRIT ADRIFT. What they are doing may seem exhausting in terms of being constantly active with releases, but they are only forging their own future. They are steaming forward and bringing a breath of fresh air to the world of more traditional heavy metal sounds. Whilst there’s nothing that makes Forge Your Future stand out from the crowd compared to previous SPIRIT ADRIFT releases, it still stands as three tracks that are destined to turn your head and give you a certain level of enjoyment that can only come with the sort of tasty riffs you’ll find here.
Rating: 7/10
Forge Your Future is out now via Century Media Records.
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