Review RESTLESS SPIRIT “Restless Spirit”

Hailing from Long Island, NY, Restless Spirit formed in 2018 after changing their name twice. Their debut album was released in 2019. With their self-titled fourth album, the band embarked on exploring the world of doom metal.

Restless Spirit picks up the Birmingham-based spirit and launches eight doom-laden metal songs that touch on stoner rock too. The album opens with “The Burning Need”, a well-crafted riff monster that hints at Restless Spirit’s musical roots. For a doom metal outfit, the song is rather fast, but it demonstrates Restless Spirit’s versatility. Next is the fiery “Hallowed”, followed by the rocking monolith known as “Red in Tooth and Claw”. There is also a slight grunge infusion, while the roaring stoner riffs take centre stage.

“Desire Lines” starts calmly, giving everyone a bit of a breather. A sense of melancholy runs through the song, which remains even when the tune gains heaviness after a while. Not to be forgotten is the blistering solo part, which showcases a band passionately following their musical vision.

“Desolation’s Wake”, with its powerful drive, is a more straightforward track with a strong punch, before we come to “Ember”, an acoustic interlude which provides a welcome break in the flow of this doom metal album. It is a counterpart to the roaring riff power of the album, while maintaining the wistful essence of the album’s spirit.

The guitars become more dominant again with “Time and Distance”. Combined with the emotive vocals of Paul Aloisio, the rumbling guitars make this track a highlight of the album. The album concludes with the thunderous and pulsating “Phantom Pain”, which alternates between doom-laden riffs and atmospheric moments with a psychedelic edge.

With their self-titled new album, Restless Spirit deliver a well-crafted metal album that showcases the band’s potential. Combined with a dynamic production, it unveils the full potential of this Long Island-based metal force. These stormy riffs are easy to navigate, and listening to the album is great fun.