Spirit Mother - Trails (Album Review)

Release Date: September 13th 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Trails: Tracklisting

1. Passage

2. Trails

3. Veins

4. Emerald

5. Below

6. Tonic

7. Vessel

8. Voyeur

9. Given

10. Wolves

Members

Armand Lance - Bass, vocals

SJ - Violin, vocals

Landon Cisneros - Drums

Sean McCormick - Guitar

Review

Trails is the new album from Psych Stoner Rockers Spirit Mother who released their critically acclaimed debut album Cadets back in 2020. A well received live album (Live In The Mojave Desert Volume3) followed in 2021 and the band are back with a masterful record that sees them blends Psychedelic Mysticism with a sense of harsh realism shown within the storytelling aspect of their music. The music is quite trippy and takes inspiration from 70’s Hard Rock, Space Rock and modern day Post-Stoner attitudes coming through the gloomy atmospherics which is used to great effect especially within the epic second track Trails.

Spirit Mother are not your standard Psychedelic Stoner Rock band delving into areas of Folk Rock that have a certain realistic quality coming from the excellent vocals of Armand and SJ. The band take a certain Fleetwood Mac approach with the more mellower parts of the record but Spirit Mother are quite adept at playing with people’s expectations and playing music that will instantly surprise you in many ways. As the record transforms into full on Sludge Rock within the superb standout tracks of Veins and Emerald. There’s a harsh DOOMGAZE flow to their music with a bleak romanticism hidden within their lyrics. 

One of the main strengths of Trails is how progressive and forward thinking that Spirit Mother actually achieves within each of the individual tracks. There’s a hidden depth and darkness to their music which overlaps with a stunning Psychedelic and Spaced Out backdrop of aggressive instrumental passages. 

The production is handled by Eddie Brnbaic (Guitarist from Hippie Death Cult) and Jonny Bell. Eddie also handles recording duties and Jonny is responsible for mastering duties. Plus the album is mixed by John McBain (Monster Magnet, Wellwater Conspiracy). This is the main reason why the album sounds brilliant throughout as well.

Trails even sees Spirit Mother venture into areas of Acid Rock and Doom-Pop textures within the incredible fifth track of Veins which is vastly becoming one of my favourite tracks I’ve heard this year. As it’s quite a bleak Folk Rock take on the whole Psychedelic Stoner Rock movement which is becoming quite popular but Spirit Mother reinvents that style of music with a sense of Classic Rock that’s full of passion and rich in storytelling.

The final parts of the record captures the attitude of Classic 90's Alt-Rock scene with Grunge aesthetic allowing a subtle Punk Rock attitude beginning to form with Spirit Mother becoming more rebellious and buoyant with the Stoner instrumental sounds leaving you wanting to hear more.

Spirit Mother have released an absolutely majestic work of art with Trails with its many different styles of Sludge/Stoner Rock being quite original and absolutely breathtaking to fully experience. 

WOW. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Trails will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from Friday September 13th 2024.

SPIRIT MOTHER links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

US Heavy Rockers SPIRIT MOTHER to release sophomore album "Trails" on Heavy Psych Sounds this fall; stream debut single "Wolves" now!

US heavy rockers SPIRIT MOTHER have signed to Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the release of their sophomore album "Trails" this September 13th, and unveil a compelling first track with "Wolves".

Spirit Mother’s forthcoming album “Trails” brings the energy of the band’s visceral, all-in live performances while expanding on the sensibilities of their debut album “Cadets”. It is the undeniable next chapter in the band’s creative process. The darker tonality, heavier, fuzz-fueled riffs, and relentless rhythm section accompany prolific structures and arrangement. The violin summons a brooding, atmospheric pedestal for the remaining power trio to wield with fervor. Lance’s haunting vocals and stark lyricism intersperse the instrumentals with a melody as dynamic as it is accessible. It is the culmination of road-worn years in pursuit of the art, and the moment-to-moment adrenaline of studio exploration.

Listen to Spirit Mother's new single "Wolves" below

About "Wolves", bassist and vocalist Armand Lance says: “Lyrically, Wolves is a questioning. An interrogation of the world around us, and our concept of face value. Our daily pill. What does it take to free your mind from influence? To form a truly original thought or perspective? Would you even know it if you did? Sonically, Wolves paints the full picture of Spirit Mother - so it only makes sense as the first single off “Trails”. All our songs are first written as folk songs on acoustic guitar - focusing on the lyrics, the chords, and the song structure. It’s our foundation and it gives us the direction before the fuzz hits.”

SPIRIT MOTHER "Trails"
Out September 13th on Heavy Psych Sounds - Bandcamp preorder - Shop preorder

TRACKLIST:

1. Passage
2. Trails
3. Veins
4. Emerald
5. Below
6. Tonic
7. Vessel
8. Voyeur
9. Given
10. Wolves

Spirit Mother is a heavy rock band with their sound anthologized through a folk-informed and classical lens: their dynamic and imposing wall of sound, coupled with a driving backbeat, grips through atmospheric strings and haunting vocals. Initially from Long Beach, CA, the band relocated across the United States, now residing in Buffalo, Los Angeles and the high desert of Eastern Oregon. Formed by vocalist and bassist Armand Lance and violinist SJ, their line-up has since solidified with the addition of guitarist Sean McCormick and drummer Landon Cisneros, providing a striking sound described by The Obelisk as lush and ranging, a “languid grunge blasted into outer space in the desert night”.

Lead singer and songwriter Armand Lance creates the bones of the music in the attic of his rural ranch between cattle working and mustang wrangling — a likeness to his father’s upbringing as an Ecuadorian cowboy. The group convenes at this cabin to write and develop their repertoire before hitting the road nationally and abroad. Spirit Mother received critical praise for their first album "Cadets": “a distinct chance we’ll look back on this as an early gem from a band going places” hailed The Sleeping Shaman.

In 2020, Spirit Mother was tapped for a pandemic project to create a live record/concert film in the style of Pink Floyd’s "Live at Pompeii". Released through Giant Rock Records and Heavy Psych Sounds Records, "Live In The Mojave Desert Vol.3" was well received by fans and critics alike. "If you didn’t know who Spirit Mother was before seeing this show, there’s no way anyone is forgetting them anytime soon. Brilliant," stated US website GBHBL.com.

In 2023, the band released their latest single “Locust//Dead Cells” and embarked on their debut European tour with summer festival appearances at Metal Days, PALP and Sonic Blast, followed by an extensive US Tour in the fall. Spirit Mother recently signed to Heavy Psych Sounds Records while in the studio for their sophomore album “Trails”, which September 2024 release will be supported by another coast-to-coast US tour and stops at Desertfest NYC and Levitation Fest in Austin, TX.

SPIRIT MOTHER lineup

Armand Lance - Bass, vocals
SJ - Violin, vocals
Landon Cisneros - Drums
Sean McCormick - Guitar

SPIRIT MOTHER links

Website ⎪ Facebook ⎪ Bandcamp  |  Instagram  |  Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT Series Announced

The most exciting outdoor event in rock has today been launched: LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT is a livestream concert film series, deep in the heart of the California wilderness, with performances from Earthless, Nebula, Spirit Mother, Mountain Tamer, and Stoner.

Tickets are available to purchase now: http://cdwa.tixr.com

Individual concert tickets will be available as well as discounted series passes.

Watch the teaser here.

Schedule:

EARTHLESS: Saturday 23rd January, 2021 
NEBULA: Saturday 6th February, 2021
SPIRIT MOTHER: Saturday 20th February, 2021
MOUNTAIN TAMER: Saturday 6th March, 2021
STONER (Brant Bjork + Ryan Gut + Nick Oliveri): Saturday 20th March, 2021

Inspired by Pink Floyd's iconic Live At Pompeii film, each of the concert films will be premiered online, and presented in a two-hour long live, hosted program. Some of the biggest desert rock legends will be on set attending and hosting, and the bands themselves will join the stream.

Each film will be released as a live album, with LP, CD, and DVD pre-orders to be announced soon. The project is presented by CDWA Records (California Desert Wizards Association) who have strived to present the best in the desert rock scene, and introduce some of the most exciting new talent.

The project includes new band STONER, a trio of Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork (Kyuss), with Ryan Gut on drums.

Brant Bjork comments: "CDWA once again commits to the ultimate Rock n Roll experience for the fans and the bands regardless of what might stand in the way. Covid literally shut down live performance around the world... what do you do? You use your imagination and you go all in. Congrats to CDWA and all the bands and crew involved in this Rock n Roll response of light in this year of concert stage darkness."

On the formation of STONER and playing with Nick once again: "I remember playing Ramones songs with Nick in his mom’s living room in Palm Desert when we were kids. Nick and I have roots that go deep. Together again as the appropriately named STONER. A testament to our collective and individual dedication to our past, our present and our future Rock n Roll."

Nick Oliveri comments: "Well I think that California Desert Wizards Association is doing a great thing and a new thing under the circumstances of COVID-19, because what I do for a living stopped cold, dead in its tracks. I feel the powers that be are trying to stop and kill music or live music and I believe Dr. Jones is doing a great thing by keeping it alive. We need more people like him coming forward. Let me add, what a cool original idea - live stream while releasing a live record. For a collector like myself this is a great thing! Big cigars and cold beers to CDWA records. RnR will never die."

CDWA have implemented a custom link program which gives a portion of sales to their affiliates who sell tickets to the shows. They're creating a network of clubs, promoters, record stores and venues across the globe to help support the musical scene in this more desperate of years. 

If you're interested in joining, please get in touch here. 

To support your local participating venue, buy through their link. More information to follow.

There is no overestimating the level of undertaking on show in the LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT series. Driving tonnes of gear 30 miles out into the desert to film five bands in four days, with 25 people onsite daily - the level of effort shows in a stunning range of unique musical experiences. 

In the words of Earthless' Mario Rubalcaba: "Setting up and playing our jams loudly out in the Mojave desert at night with Mad Alchemy's lightshow all around us will forever be a really great memory.  I wonder how many animals were listening?  Happy it was documented."

CDWA's Ryan Jones' statement: "This was a major undertaking to bring this many people and this much gear out to a very remote desert location. Including the bands we had 25 people onsite daily. Generators. Meals. Tacos. Burgers. Vegan food. Water. Coffee. Weed, Beer & Booze. Camping gear. Handwashing. Covid prevention plans. Portapots. Stage lights. Liquid light show. Full Sound System. So much cable to bury. Backline. Pro Tools Recording System. Computers. Cameras. Drones. Bands. Backline. Everything that came in had to go out, of course. With only one road in, all of these people and all of this stuff had to come up a half mile long hill of deep desert sand; 30 miles from nowhere. We had to hire local desert guys with huge 4x4 pickups to tow things up, tow things down, shuttle the bands, shuttle their gear, guitars, drums, and occasionally to rescue our vehicles. It was insane, but we did it for the love of the project and we really wanted to see our favorite bands play again!"

CDWA Links:

Website
Instagram
Facebook 
YouTube
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