Release Date: September 01st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Revival: Tracklisting
1.Revival 05:26
2.Chapter Zero 04:59
3.Darkest Night 06:56
4.Foggy Mist 04:41
5.Fading Away 06:03
6.Witchy Eyes 03:47
7.Twisted Realities 06:38
8.Dead by Dawn (Bonus) 06:07
9.Cellar of Misery (Bonus) 04:58
10.Cellar of Misery (Extended Version) (Bonus) 06:38
Members
Khushal Bhadra - Lyrics/Vocals
Filip Petersen - Guitar/Bass/Drums
Review:
Revival is the new album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Spiral Shades. This is a band who play music that pays homage to bands such as Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed and Trouble. The music is a mix of 70’s Proto Doom, Psych Rock and modern day Stoner Metal with flashes of Classic Hard Rock for good measure.
Lead vocalist Khushal Bhadra has a great vocal style of his own which is most definitely from the Ozzy Osbourne way of life and the instrumental work from Filip Petersen is bang on point that perfectly pays homage to the 1970’s Doom Metal scene whilst still playing their own definitive blend of Psych Doom/Stoner Metal with an Atmospheric style of music appearing within the excellent opening tracks of Revival and Chapter Zero.
Both tracks have an eerie Occult Rock theme which allows Spiral Shades to become more Classic Rock orientated and showcases their first rate instrumental skills to the fullest. The music is wonderfully melodic which adds a seedy Grunge attitude despite the overall leanings of Heavy Doomed Out Stoner Metal. The music is never flashy or overbearing with Spiral Shades writing superb lyrics along the way. There’s also a neverending style of sublime guitar solos which has a Stadium Rock aura in places.
Spiral Shades keep up with that winning style of gloominess and heaviness on the next few tracks of Darkest Night, Foggy Mist and Fading Away which allows this album to become one of the essential albums to listen to during the upcoming Halloween period and winter months. There is a sense of darkness to the album but Spiral Shades never become fully consumed by that part of the music with the band playing traces of Blues Rock on this part of the album. The music can be even considered understated which shines mostly on Darkest Night and Fading Away.
The Occult/Doom Rock theme continues with the band on the second half of the album but with a jagged Classic Hard Rock sound that’s rounded out by that modern Stoner Metal grittiness which shows mostly within the lyrics and heavier extended instrumental jams on the album on outstanding tracks such as Witchy Eyes, Twisted Realities and Dead By Dawn.
Spiral Shades last album was released way back in 2014 and Revival has most definitely been worth the wait. As it’s a wholly satisfying and superbly entertaining album that is the type of album the Doom/Stoner Metal underground community usually goes crazy over. I can see this happening within time as Spiral Shades have delivered the good here. Backed up by excellent production values, Revival is most definitely worth your time.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Spiral Shades for the promo.
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