Spirit Possession – Of The Sign…
Release Date: 31st March 2023
Label: Profound Lore Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal.
FFO: Hellripper, Midnight, Bewitcher, Funereal Presence, Antichrist Siege Machine, Nocturnal Departure.
Review By: Joe McKenna
A recent addition to the Profound Lore Records catalogue, Spiritual Possession presents a savagely raw aura that can only best be described musically as schizophrenically imbued, erratic blackened heavy metal that utilises a sonic vortex of razor-sharp guitar leads, violently tenacious drum work, balefully noise-infused synth arrangements, and disturbingly explosive vocals. The duo ensemble, comprised of members S. Peacock (Ulthar, Pandiscordian Necrogenesis, Mastery) on strings and vocals, and A. Spungin (Vouna, Ormus, Taurus) on percussion and handmade synthesizers, released their self-titled debut album back in 2020 and generated a much-anticipated buzz around numerous underground metal community. Their sound certainly focussed more on the traditional and old-school approach early on and this has allowed them to establish an eerie atmospheric form of rawness within their overall sound. One can therefore recognise this direct musicianship within the band’s sophomore release Of The Sign… and whilst the duo are able to deliver a volatile raw black metal sound with much precision, they do perhaps on occasion fall into a predicament of one-dimensionality.
The dynamic and vigorous energy that this record radiates is undoubtedly clear from beginning to end, and the artists make sure to maintain that classically resonant form of metal production that does somewhat enhance the overall harshness and raw edge to each of these tracks. Orthodox Weapons and Inhale The Hovering Keys are two clear examples of this old-school application of that 80s heavy metal sound being pursued by the band, the cut-throat nature of the guitars and uncompressed rhythmic accompaniment allows for a chaotically swift catacomb of unrelenting noise.
The band also use this unprocessed stylistic accompaniment by means of refining a chilling and bleak atmosphere, Second Possession for instance sees a rich abundance in this unfiltered guitar tone to enrich an already gut-wrenching and threatening blackened ambience. The employment of Spungin’s synths furthermore add to the intensity, like on shorter filler tracks The Hex and Of The Sign…which undertake chilling sci-fi characteristics and accompanying string harmonies to emphasise a sense of foreboding sonic peril.
For the most part this record does what it sets out to do which is to create uncompromisingly raw heaviness through unrefined and naturally applied instrumentation to give that classic 80s/90s extreme metal feel. This does however expose the record to the risk of sometimes becoming slightly hollow and void of depth in some sections. Whilst the enhanced treble on the guitars imbue this bleak raw black metal sound effectively, this can often leave songs feeling rather empty with a barely audible bass to support the abrasive and hostile atmospheres. What’s more, a lack of refinement over certain sections are evident in some tracks like Practitioners Of Power, where short, harsh instrumental phrases often rely too heavily on scratchy guitar riffs and simplistic rhythmic elements; in a sense they cry out for more abrasive development.
Understandably, polished production is not something black metal musicians aim to lean towards very often and so it would be unwise to demerit this record based on that alone, and there is such a tendency to fall into this trap where the music begins to lack a sense of sonic variation due to its direct nature. On the other hand, it is through this raw and candid application of sound which the band seem to be aiming to build on for future releases. You can definitely see something sinister brewing beneath the surface of Spirit Possession’s music and Of The Sign… is perhaps just short of a few refinements to truly resemble the band’s abrasive and chaotic nature. Conclusively, Spirit Possession appears to be an overall win for US black metal and old-school inspired heavy metal music in general, highlighting the scene’s willingness to honour its predecessors and bring forth new creative musical insights.
(3 / 5)
