Album Review: The Spirit – Of Clarity and Galactic Structures (AOP Records)

Two years after their sophomore “Cosmic Terror”, Germany’s The Spirit once again delve into the vast nothingness of the universe, while capturing the fear of the unknown and humanity’s insignificance within our cosmos in their sound. On their upcoming third offering, “Of Clarity and Galactic Structures”, out on April 1st via AOP Records, the duo, consisting of Matthias Trautes (vocals, guitars, bass) and Manuel Steitz (drums), hold on to their black/death metal roots yet take the progressive elements to a whole new level.

Showcasing strong technical prowess, death and black metal intensity and progressive sci-fi imagination, The Spirit unleash a cacophony of heaviness on the opening title track. A discordant blast of metal aggression and thrilling technicality, the grandiosity that is present is not unheard of in this style of music but is rarely showcased in such a complete way.

This is a start that will leave you exhausted but The Spirit have so much more to bring.

Starting with the blackened death metal fire that comes spewing out of The Climax of Dejection and continuing into the methodical thrill ride of complex and detailed instrumentation that exists throughout Repression. Both tracks leaning towards the harsher side of metal but in surprisingly different ways.

The Spirit’s imagination continues to bubble and boil over as Celestial Fire starts an inferno, Transition is exactly what it says it is, a chance to take a breather before The Spirit throw their all into Timbre of Infinity. This track bristles with blackened passion, proving itself to be one of the harshest but most fascinating tracks on the album. The Spirit continue to astound with their musical pedigree, keeping a destructive consistency at the forefront but constantly shifting the narrative.

It’s that aspect which stops the mind going numb, especially when you’ve got 7-minute tracks like Arcane Wanderer to come. Speaking of…

Here, The Spirit delve into their technical bag of tricks to bring out a heavily-laden piece that also has the power to bust holes in heads. Before, finally, Laniakea takes some cues from a more traditional heavy metal sound but, of course, has so much more to show.

It is exhausting but The Spirit do an incredible job of making it unforgettable.

The Spirit – Of Clarity and Galactic Structures Full Track Listing:

1. Of Clarity and Galactic Structures
2. The Climax of Dejection
3. Repression
4. Celestial Fire
5. Transition
6. Timbre of Infinity
7. Arcane Wanderer
8. Laniakea

Links

Bandcamp | Big Cartel | Facebook | Instagram | AOP Records