Album Review: Of Spire And Throne – A Sonic Gut-Punch You Didn’t Know You Needed
Alright, buckle up, folks. We’re diving into Of Spire And Throne’s latest release—a record that feels like it was brewed in some shadowy basement where the walls sweat distortion and the air smells faintly of regret. This isn’t your polished, radio-friendly nonsense; this is raw, unfiltered emotion served with a side of existential dread. And honestly? I’m here for it.
Let’s kick things off with “Ashes on the Altar,” because holy crap, does this track slap. It starts off slow—like, ‘is my speaker broken?’ slow—but then BAM! The guitars hit harder than your ex’s new relationship status update. There’s something about how the vocals teeter between a growl and a whisper that just sticks to your brain. By the time the chorus rolls around, you're either headbanging or questioning every life choice that led you to this moment. Either way, mission accomplished.
Then there’s “Cathedral of Bones,” which might as well come with a warning label: “May cause involuntary fist-clenching and sudden urges to scream at clouds.” The drums are relentless, pounding away like they’ve got a personal vendetta against silence itself. What gets me, though, is the breakdown halfway through—it’s chaotic but weirdly cathartic, like finally yelling at someone who cut you off in traffic five years ago. You don’t know why it feels so good, but damn if it doesn’t.
Now, let’s talk production—or rather, the gloriously messy lack thereof. Some albums try too hard to sound perfect, but not this one. Every crackle, hiss, and accidental string squeak feels intentional, like the band wanted to remind us that music doesn’t need to be shiny to be impactful. Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing. Like finding a crumpled-up dollar bill in an old jacket pocket—imperfect, unexpected, but still valuable.
So yeah, Of Spire And Throne didn’t reinvent the wheel with this album, but they sure as hell bent it outta shape. If you’re looking for background noise while folding laundry, keep scrolling. But if you want something that’ll grab you by the soul and shake it until it begs for mercy, give this a spin.
And hey, fun fact: listening to this album made me realize I should probably water my plants more often. Who knew heavy music could inspire such domestic epiphanies?
