Review: Spirit Mother ‘Trails’

A couple of years back I had the privilege of reviewing one of the Live In The Mojave Desert, for the superb Mountain Tamer, right here, for The Sleeping Shaman and among other illustrious bands who had participated in recording a session for the series was Spirit Mother. It’s a name I noticed but was completely unaware of the band themselves.

At the time I got right into Mountain Tamer, and because of that, overlooked the other bands but step forward a couple of years, and here we are, in 2024, and again, the name Spirit Mother has re-emerged on my radar. This time it isn’t for a live recording but is due to the fact that they are releasing their brand-new album Trails.

For those who already know Spirit Mother, you should be well versed in their sound already, and if you are new to them, then they have a similar vibe to Mountain Tamer, as well as Hippie Death Cult. They are a hard rocking powerhouse with massive riffs and a hazy ’70s swagger, not dissimilar to that of Jim Morrisson.

As for Trails itself, the album is a smouldering ten tracks of retro infused trippy goodness, neatly packaged within a smoke-stained jacket, tainted, yet completely desirable. It’s just perfect for a night of heavy drinking, weed partaking, partying till the dawn extasy.

After the initial pre-start of opener Passage, we swiftly wafted into the first actual track, the aptly titled Trails. It’s a luxurious fog of smoke to emerge through, and as the first vocal lines are delivered, the real majesty of the band is discovered. Taking their time to really start motoring, the band swagger the piece along, and throughout, it becomes apparent that there is so much more to this band than I initially thought. When it hits its highs, it absolutely soars, and during lows you can almost feel your face in the dust.

Veins rolls in and offers up a more oppressive side to the band. It’s not all light and airy, and proves just how dark they can get when pushed. Its mix of heavy drums and bassy rumbles provides the perfect foundations on which to build a track that is so much more than everything to this point.

a hard rocking powerhouse with massive riffs and a hazy ’70s swagger…

It’s at this junction where my favourite track of the whole album steps forth and elevates the band further still. Emerald is more of an upbeat, fun number. It has a whole ‘70s feel to it, and I quickly conjure up comparisons to T. Rex. Not so much as a specific nod to Marc Bolan and co, more that it has such a high intensity and flamboyance to it, that for the sake of this review, this is where I’m transported to.

Instantly catchy, it’s one of those tracks you want to play to your friends, in a ‘check these out’ kind of a way. By complete parallel, track five, Below is a far more stripped back affair. Slow and trippy, there’s a certain something here that reminds me of cigar smoke, old westerns, and the man with no name.

The following Tonic is where things start to diversify a little further. Whereas there have been certain moments leading up to this point, it’s here where SJ’s string skills really shine. The use of the violin takes the track and revolutionises the band’s sound. Having this element take centre stage really changes up their dynamic and I really wish this had been more pivotal throughout the whole album. Alas, its only here briefly, but boy, when it appears, it’s wonderful. Not to detract from the rest of the band, it’s such a welcome addition, that I do wonder why it isn’t a bigger element.

Vessel moves us swiftly back into line and proceeds to reinstall a sense of that trademark Spirit Mother sound, before on to Voyeur to set up the final third of the album. With a swagger Clint Eastwood would be proud of, the band take the opportunity to solidify just what their mission statement is, and that’s to rock out to maximum vibrancy. Voyeur lines up the road ahead, and its plain sailing through Given and on to Wolves, the finale for the whole opus.

With Wolves we get a parting shot at just how enigmatic this band truly are. A stripped back introduction ushers in a super chilled vibe, a nice mid paced affair, which seals just how cool Spirit Mother are. The clean vocal over a chugging desert rock soundtrack pushes the piece on to its climax. Wailed guitars over vibrant drumming makes for total devastation and finishes the album on a high.

Pure class, a real triumph, a must hear for fans and non-fans alike.

Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Lee Beamish