Spirit Possession — Of The Sign...
Spirit Possession are a US black metal band which plays a hybrid style that fuses a Bathory-esque classic black metal with flashy trills and melodic shredding that borrows tricks from groups like Iron Maiden and Megadeth. They came into the scene in 2020 with a self-titled debut on Profound Lore Records, and have now returned this year in 2023 with the follow-up, Of The Sign....
The band's energy is infectious from the album's first moment. They bring a lively enthusiasm to the driving rhythms rarely heard in traditional black metal-themed projects. I am certain the band's live shows are devastatingly powerful. I'm reminded of Celtic Frost's "To Mega Therion" and "Morbid Tales", though those seem more reserved and stone-faced when compared to this, which has a clearer sense of fun. Like those groups that originated during the heyday of thrash in the 80's, Spirit Possession make black metal and thrash feel as if they naturally coincide with one other, having no reason to be separate.
The riffs here are absolutely incredible, dense almost beyond comprehension and filled with subtle melody. This album is an absolute treat for anyone who likes analyzing and recreating unique guitar figures. It is on the same technicality level as many technical death metal bands, yet takes a more melodic, classic approach, that seems to leave greater room for dynamics. The tone of the guitar is closer to the sound of Megadeth than modern metal, with lower gain overall. Hearing the folk figures of Viking metal creep into the bluesy thrash patterns is quite interesting.
This is a beautiful homage to classic metal, and quite honestly, exceeds the level of many of the classics with its poised precision. Many legendary albums, especially in black metal, are loved more for an atmosphere or aesthetic than actual songwriting or musicianship. Bands like have been able to capture exactly what made the previous era feel the way it did, while infusing the songwriting with a depth and complexity never seen back then. This album has an absolutely stunning guitar performance, and the energy and power of the band are uncommon in any era.