On May 7, the new album In Conspiracies We Trust by the North German thrashers Extinct will be released. Eager fans can get an early taste of the nine new songs on April 24, when the band celebrates their record release party at Mosh im Mai in Kiel, where the album will be available for […]

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The final enlightenment has come.

All good things must come to an end, and while the span of 10 years might seem a fairly short run when measured against the decades that some of heavy metal’s prime movers have been at the game, the prolific road paved in the studio by Austin, Texas’ own Spirit Adrift has been nothing if not formidable.

Led by the guitar and vocal chops of multi-instrumentalist and mastermind Nate Garrett, whom also lent his skills at the six-string to the iconic death metal staple Gatecreeper, this epic and traditionally grounded doom metal institution has scarcely gone a year since their 2015 formation without fielding a substantial studio opus that has won them praise from such noted outlets as Decibel, Revolver, Metal Hammer and Kerrang!

Now, having already marked their March 20^th date opening for Crowbar, Eyehategod, and Black Magnet as their last live appearance, the final sonic chapter of this grand tale set to odes of existential woe has been codified via their 6^th studio LP, Infinite Illumination.

To the already initiated, this well-rounded opus of dense, forbidding odes recapitulates the unique blend of 80s epic doom, traditional heavy metal, and occasional fits of thrashing sludge that has typified this outfit’s stylistic approach since their sophomore studio outing, namely 2017’s Curse Of Conception. The generally slow-trudging mixture of atmospheric density and melodic consonance inspired by the likes of Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus seamlessly mingle with a more Sabbath-centered sense of archaic melancholy featured in the seminal work of Trouble and The Obsessed, occasionally giving way to swifter and more aggressive fare that points to the likes of Corrosion Of Conformity and High On Fire.

In essence, Garrett’s artistic vision is nothing if not a multifaceted one, and the crop of high-caliber musicians surrounding him, including bassist Sonny DeCarlo (Goya), drummer Mike Arellano (M.O.D.), and recently recruited Alaska-born guitarist Jason Dahlke, perform masterfully in bringing that vision to life.

Never an outfit to shy away from going long, Spirit Adrift hit the ground with a thunderous dirge of a title entry in “Infinite Illumination”, clocking in at just less than 8 minutes and balancing a towering down tempo punch with hazy, atmospheric respites and chaotic bursts that effectively run the gamut of this fold’s stylistic toolset. At the helm, Garrett also exemplifies the tormented beauty that often comes with an epic doom approach, avoiding the overt operatic character of Messiah Marcolin or Dio-like bombast of Robert Lowe, but also having a soaring quality that makes for a more dramatic listen than what tends to go with modern traditional doom.

A similar musical story is told in a more dissonant, heavy and almost liturgical manner with the 7 minute mystical slough “You Will Never Hold The Key”, while the utterly dark and dreary crunch of “I Am Sustained” leans heavily into the heavy-ended and menacing metallic formula that made Epicus Doomicus Metallicus a pinnacle offering of the subgenre, not to mention showcasing the sort of wild virtuosic guitar soloing stunts that kept it firmly rooted in the 80s.

By the same token, this is a band that knows when to play things more concisely, and along for the ride with the extended jams are some merciless bangers that match accessible melodic hooks and shorter lengths with that same dank aesthetic. The more up-tempo yet highly menacing “Window Within” presents a tighter and punchier take on the doom question, playing off a fairly static riff set and allowing Garrett’s lofty voice to guide things through a generally straight musical path.

The chunky riff machine “Born In A Bad Way” goes even heavier while also taking a highly minimalist approach for its short duration, leaning towards that sludgy sound yet still feeling epic in demeanor. The tempo is kicked up to a mighty metallic roar on “White Death”, which could almost pass for a lost track off of Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer save for Garrett’s more conventionally gritty vocal approach and a wetter guitar tone. But for a truly harrowing walk through the chambers of auditory woe, the closing epic “Where Once There Was An Ocean” balances the catchier elements of this album’s shorter entries with the grandiose atmospheric quality of the more drawn-out ones.

Amid the titans of modern doom metal that include the likes of Crypt Sermon, Pallbearer, Khemmis, and Wolftooth; Spirit Adrift was always a name that stood no less as tall and provided a bridge between the disparate expressions of the subgenre and the epic offshoots of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal that leaned into a similar aesthetic. Infinite Illumination marks one of the better offerings in a highly consistent discography, channeling a similar kind of magic to the one that made seminal albums like Ancient Dreams, King Of The Dead, Beyond The Crimson Horizon, and Run To The Light the standard by which the new generation is measured.

It’s a bittersweet conclusion to a mighty tale that seemed to have only begun a short while ago, but given the magnitude of what has been committed to recording by this Texas quartet, this is an end that is sure to give rise to many new beginnings, be they by some of these musicians under a different moniker or a new crop inspired by this colossal coup de grace.

Release Date: April 10th, 2026
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Sludge / Doom / Heavy Metal

Musicians:

• Nate Garrett / Vocals, guitars
• Jason Dahlke / Guitars
• Sonny DeCarlo / Bass
• Mike Arellano / Drums

Infinite Illumination Tracklist:

1. Infinite Illumination
2. Window Within
3. You Will Never Hold The Key
4. Born In A Bad Way
5. Buried In The Shadow Of The Cross
6. White Death
7. I Am Sustained
8. Where Once There Was As Ocean

Order the album here.

The post SPIRIT ADRIFT – “Infinite Illumination” (Album Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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Grammy-nominated guitarist and singer Samantha Fish will release Paper Doll Live via Rounder Records on Friday June 12th, her first official live album, capturing the electrifying stage presence that has made her one of the most compelling performers in modern blues and roots music.

A leading guitarist of her generation, Fish is known for her bold musicianship, emotional depth, and fearless song writing. A multi-award-winning festival headliner, she has built her reputation on explosive live performances that blend raw guitar power with deeply expressive vocals. Following the critical success of her Grammy-nominated album Paper Doll, the new live record showcases the intensity and chemistry that define her shows night after night.

“Truly, this is for the fans,” Fish says of making her first official live record. “We’ve had numerous requests over the years. Paper Doll felt so great on stage — it felt like the perfect time to showcase the band and our live show.”

Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, Paper Doll Live captures a band fully locked in and feeding off a packed crowd. The venue’s natural warmth and acoustics created an ideal setting for the recording, elevated even further by the addition of Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters, whose soaring harmonies bring added depth and emotion to the performance.

“Their voices lifted every song,” Fish says. “I love beautiful backing vocals — they pack an emotional punch. I’ve been a fan of them for years, so that was really special for me.”

Fans travelled from across the country to attend the recording, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and celebration inside the theatre.

“Our fans aren’t afraid to travel,” Fish says. “When we announced the show, people got excited. I think that build-up always helps make a better show.”

The result is a performance that feels both ferocious and communal — a moment where the band, the songs, and the audience meet in real time. While the studio album Paper Doll marked a breakthrough in Fish’s artistic confidence, the live setting strips away polish and leaves only instinct.

“There’s a fire that comes across in live performance that doesn’t always translate in studio albums,” Fish says. “The stage lays all of that bare.”

Songs evolve and expand in the live environment. Outros stretch. Studio fade-outs become powerful climaxes. Tracks like “Lose You” build with relentless momentum, while “Sweet Southern Sounds” allows Fish to lean into her hypnotic North Mississippi-inspired guitar phrasing. The title track “Paper Doll” lands as a defiant anthem night after night, igniting crowds with its refusal to conform.

And when the band launches into a blistering cover of MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams,” the room detonates.

For Fish, the difference between studio and stage is elemental. “The studio is where you build and create your sound,” she says. “The stage is where you execute all of that. Having a crowd takes you out of your head and gives you something to play off.”

Emerging from Kansas City’s blues lineage and shaped by influences ranging from Prince and Leonard Cohen to the legends of Mississippi Hill Country blues, Fish has long treated performance as her proving ground. From cold-calling bars as a teenager to headlining international festivals, she has developed a live show that balances catharsis and control, boldness and vulnerability.

With Paper Doll Live, she isn’t reinventing herself — she’s documenting the power of what she and her band do every night. “I just wanted to capture what we do every night,” Fish says. “It wasn’t about chasing something new. It was about capturing the thing that has connected so deeply over the years.”

Paper Doll Live can be pre-order here.

The post SAMANTHA FISH Captures Live Energy On Upcoming Live Album “Paper Doll Live” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The post PJD Explores Psychedelic Depths in “On New Horizons” appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

The man behind Asterise Bartlomiej Mezynski International power metal band Asterise released a new single ‘Fractal’ on April 10th 2026. Fractal is an almost six‑minute track featuring extensive lead guitar work and epic vocals. The song marks the first collaboration with Herbie Langhans (Avantasia) on vocals and Ronny Milianowicz (Shadowquest) on drums. A playthrough video will accompany the release, offering a closer look at the performance behind the […]

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Pretty much a weekend tour.

The post Weekend Nachos To Tour Europe And The UK This November appeared first on Theprp.com.

Progressive Metal trio, Voidchaser, have released Interstellar I, the band’s second full-length album! “Excellent sense of timing, synergy and balance, as well as outstanding musicianship. It’s a progressive metal album that both deep enthusiasts and newcomers alike will enjoy.” (8.5/10) – Dead Rhetoric “Above all, Voidchaser showcase a keen sense of songcraft.“ – Consequence “Voidchaser stands in a […]

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Their new EP will be out through Periphery’s 3DOT Recordings in May.

The post OBEYER Premiere “Trauma Host” Music Video appeared first on Theprp.com.

The post Let Love Remain is Adorn’s Album Out Now appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.