Year: 2022
Total Time: 43:28
Label: AOP Records

We were introduced to THE SPIRIT mostly with their 2020 release “Cosmic Terror” in which the Germans performed an excellent Black/Death Metal following the foundations set by the masters of this sound, DISSECTION with their legendary releases from the 90s.

What made the band stand out, is that they didn’t just copy the Swedish gods like dozens of other bands do (whose covers are even reminiscent of the covers of “The Somberlain” and “Storm Of The Light’s Bane”) but tried to create a more personal sound. A typical example of this is the theme of the lyrics where it draws inspiration from the vast space of our cosmic universe.

As with several other bands, the last track of an album sometimes acts as a precursor to what’s about to come. Similarly, listening to the self-titled instrumental song with which “Cosmic Terror” comes to an end, you can easily notice that the Germans timidly showed their predisposition for more Prog-y stuff.

It should come as no surprise then that the band turned into a more Progressive Black/Death Metal sound. And why not, when they do it so well! Fortunately, they do not fall into the trap in which the term “Technical Metal” means relentless shredding and neoclassical solos on the guitar. On the contrary, the inspiration here comes from the good era of Progressive Metal, the “smart” riffs, the melodies, and the variety in rhythms. Kind of like the band of the beloved Chuck Schuldiner.

DEATH, in particular, is a great influence on this album. The way the Americans took elements from classic Heavy Metal and mixed them with their technical sound, is something that THE SPIRIT do very nicely in their new album. Between the Black Metal blast beats and the fast guitars, we will meet several melodies and elements from the wider field of Rock. Due to this, there are parts in which the Germans are reminiscent even of SATYRICON of the last 20 years.

“Of Clarity And Galactic Structures” consists of seven songs and a small instrumental, which range from five to seven minutes; an ideal duration for the genre as all the compositions are complete without overwhelming the listener. The album starts ideally with the title song which fluctuates in the classical style of the Germans, to begin to explore the more prog moods of the band with songs such as “Celestial Fire” and end up in “Laniakea”, a wonderful instrumental composition which is enhanced with the use of 80s synths that will inevitably bring to mind the theme of the popular series Stranger Things. A taste of what awaits us in the future?

In summary, THE SPIRIT released another excellent album that combines very successfully the sound of the melodic Black Metal of DISSECTION and the technical Metal of DEATH. Perhaps fans of the band’s early style will be a little disappointed with this change, but personally I find this change very fitting. Fans of the two aforementioned bands, but also fans of the melodic and technical extreme sound should invest without fear. You won’t regret it!

Rating: 8/10
Editor: Dimitris Benetatos
Related Link: THE SPIRIT – Facebook Page