September 24, 2024
Surely it wasn't an easy job for Spirit Adrift to follow up their astounding 2019 masterpiece “Divided By Darkness”, but Nate Garrett and company outdid themselves once again with "Enlightened In Eternity," just one year later.
Upon its release their 4th studio record was an instant classic amongst critics & fans. The prevailing sentiment was that the band continued to evolve, creating yet another beast of an album, building on the foundation established by the previous LPs while also shining a new light itself apart in formidable new ways, widening the scope of what Spirit Adrift can be.
Right off the bat with "Ride Into The Light" we hear a newfound sense of energy and positivity when compared to Spirit Adrift’s earlier doom-y & more melancholic work. Tracks like “Harmony Of The Spheres ” and “Astral Levitation” are full of galloping rhythms and triumphant guitar riffs, evoking metal greats like Cirith Ungol and High On Fire while maintaining a distinct identity. The guitar work throughout the album is stunning—Garrett’s riffs and solos are sharp and full of emotion, often delivering moments of pure exhilaration that make you want to headbang along. Lyrically, the album delves into themes of loss, redemption, and transcendence. There’s an emotional depth here that resonates, particularly in a year filled with global challenges. Garrett’s lyrics explore personal grief and existential struggles but ultimately convey a message of hope and empowerment—a fitting companion for the heroic tone of the music.
And we’d be remiss not to mention how incredibly cool the album art by the amazing Adam Burke is!! Have you noticed the two dogs? In an interview with Echoes & Dust, Nate Garrett says “That’s Dawkins and Lizzy, Marcus’s dog and my dog. They both died leading up to the recording of the album. We wanted to make them immortal in the album artwork of what will hopefully become a classic and highly revered metal album. I can’t think of a cooler, more powerful tribute. We also used their collars as alternate percussion on the last song of the album.”
Enlightened in Eternity is a triumphant, emotionally resonant album that not only was on everyone's AOTY list back in 2019 but also continues to get both long-time metal fans and newcomers thoroughly impressed. Now it’s our October 2024 Gimme Metal Vinyl Club record, pressed on a Gimme Exclusive 'Gilded Grove' variant!
