This is the sixth, and final, album from the US doom/heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.
So, the final Spirit Adrift album – the end of an era. Since 2016’s Chained to Oblivion, all the way across a decade of doom and heavy metal, through Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, Enlightened in Eternity, and penultimately 2023’s Ghost at the Gallows, Spirit Adrift have provided the world with a consistently high quality metallic output. Which brings us to the 46-minute swansong that is Infinite Illumination. Does it soar, or does it fall flat on its face?
The former, thankfully. The chance of the latter being the case was always minimal, but Infinite Illumination is remarkably strong. The guiding hand behind Spirit Adrift knows what he’s about, and he’s backed by a capable crew, (which includes members of the excellent Goya and Fulci). This record is top notch.
Infinite Illumination, despite its name, is darker than a lot of the recent Spirit Adrift material; the band’s doom metal influences are firmly in ascendence once more. It presents as a doom metal album that pulls from both primary aspects of the Spirit Adrift persona, which obviously includes their heavy metal side as well as their doom one. The end result is something very tasty indeed.
The artist behind the band has crafted songs with personality and depth. The return to doomier waters suits Spirit Adrift down to the ground. With high emotion, affecting melody, and huge riffs, Infinite Illumination is a roaring success. The quality of songwriting shines through every pore, from the guitar leads to the capable drumming to the powerful vocals. Of the latter, these drip with power and feeling throughout the record, and are a real asset.
Unexpectedly, at the last, this is one of Spirit Adrift’s strongest albums. It holds nothing back. The music offers an experience that’s very satisfying and enjoyable. It gets better and better with every listen, and is a potent reminder of how good Spirit Adrift can be.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 