SpiritWorld - Helldorado - review
SpiritWorld - Helldorado - review
Tracklist
01. Abilene Grime02. No Vacancy In Heaven
03. Western Stars & The Apocalypse
04. Bird Song Of Death
05. Prayer Lips
06. Waiting On The Reaper
07. Oblivion
08. Cleansing
09. Stigmata Scars
10. ANNIHILISM
A review by
AndyMetalFreak March 28, 2025
Spawned from the sweltering Mojave Desert in a place known as Sin City in 2017, SpiritWorld are led by frontman Stu Folsom, whose style is just as ferocious and unforgiving as the inhospitable lands from which they came. They label themselves as a death Western band, however, this is but a simple term to define their actual style, which originally began as an interesting combination of old-school punk and country. The band released their highly praised full-length debut Pagan Rhythms in 2020, before further developing their style by merging hardcore, death metal, and crossover thrash on their outstanding sophomore effort Deathwestern in 2022. By this time they really began to make a name for themselves, gaining widespread recognition for their ferocious Western-influenced metal, and now they return 3 years later to unleash their highly anticipated third album, Helldorado.
In recent years, Americana and Spaghetti Western themes have been effectively used in black metal, with bands such as Wayfarer, Blackbraid, and Untamed Land leading the way, but the genres underpinning SpiritWorld's style are sparsely represented on this front. This to me seems odd, because said genres are ideal for the bloodthirsty, gun-slinging themes of the Wild West. I can imagine Billy the Kid himself blasting out Deathwestern while galloping on horseback with his comrades to fuel their adrenaline towards their next brutal killing spree. SpiritWorld have thankfully taken this route, and to the point that I can likely see other bands following in their footsteps.
Helldorado offers 10 short, ferocious songs with a total running length of just 28 minutes. This means there's no sign of overkill here, ideal if you've limited time and are in need of a quick neck-breaking adrenaline fix. As you'd expect, "Abilene Grime" starts things off in fiery fashion. The rhythm section of bassist Nick Brundy and drummer Preston Harper is relentlessly rampant, energetic, and full of groove, while the guitar duo Matt Schrum and Randy Moore weave though devastating chugs, ferocious Slayer-inspired riffs, and classic wailing thrash guitar leads. Folsom of course continues his vocal duties in an aggressive hardcore shouting manner, but is accompanied by backing gnarls and screams from his fellow cowboys in arms. One thing you can't help but notice are the familiar Western-tinged riff melodies, which have now become the band's key signature element, continuing to hook you in the same way they did on previous albums.
The relentless high-end ferocity, crushing breakdowns, and abundance of memorable riffs make Helldorado often seem like a combination of Slayer, Sodom, and Power Trip. However, that is until you reach "Bird Song Of Death"; this offers listeners a chance for respite amidst the savage hardcore thrashing, through electric and acoustic strings and passionate sing-along verses. "Prayer Lips" also follows a similar route, but perhaps possesses a slightly more melancholic touch, along with an unusual saxophone solo at the end. The next few songs, especially "Waiting On The Reaper" and "Oblivion", bring the album right back to ferocious speed, with "Oblivion" featuring esteemed guest musicians Sgah’gahsowáh of Blackbraid and Zach Blair of Rise Against. The final songs on the record then catch you off guard once more; the ferocious "Stigmata Scars" is sandwiched between "Cleansing", a short and stylishly intense interlude, and "ANNIHILISM", a country Western ballad-type song.
All in all, Helldorado is another impressive effort, and with 3 great records on the trot, I can see SpiritWorld becoming a real force to be reckoned with. These aggressive, hellish cowboys have now even shown a lighter side, introducing several ballads; this is a bold, and some may say odd, move, but it shows that the band is willing to step out of their comfort zone, priming listeners for even more diversity in their songwriting approach in the future. If you're a fan of hardcore and crossover thrash and like the thought of spicing things up with a bit of punk and death, and also happen to like a bit of Country and Western, then Helldorado has all of that to offer.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 7 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 28.03.2025 by
Written on 28.03.2025 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
Comments:
1
Visited by
12 users
 Posts: 64428 |
Posts: 64428
Just like watching from dusk till down
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
|
Hits total: 1922 | This month: 13