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Spirit Adrift is the solo project of Arizona's Take Over and Destroy guitarist and vocalist Nate Garrett. Behind - Beyond is his debut EP consisting of "only" two songs, both of them are of epic length "Specter of Ruin" (12 :07) and "Perpetual Passage" (15:36) with expanding and exploring melodies.
The dominating pace is that of slow Doom, few speedy passages are included, but there are riffs and melodies in abundance and they burst with emotions related to experiences of inner brokenness and the painful process of healing and renewal. Everything is drenched in atmospheres of dirge, melancholy yet there's a definite tone of hope and confidence, too, that shines through.
The (almost always) clean, warm vocals are kind of bellowed out with an urgency and vigor that make sure the words conveyed won't go unnoticed. Still they are utterly melodious and add a great deal to the EP's magic. Melodies and riffs are what the EP relies on, plus there is a great sense of a slow quietness which is, nonetheless, in a constant motion that induces enormous shifts in mood with barely noticeable smooth transitions. An open sound leaves room for the wailing guitars, the crushing drums and glorious melodies to breathe and resonate.
"Specter of Ruin" is of a slightly lighter tone and atmosphere and of a simpler structure than the other song. It starts off soft, clean and quiet, then steers into a heavy riff. When the warm powerful vocals set in, the song begins to unfold its enchanting magic, that gets even more fascinating in the last part where a fundamental change in tone and mood into an uplifting direction takes place. The mantra - like repetitions of melody and the words "Taken away... Freedom from pain" reflect and enhance that change wonderfully.
"Perpetual Passage" is without doubt the heavier and more complex one. It is also different in the overall atmosphere. It's darker, rougher, more aggressive and abrasive . There are even more shifts and changes, including a speedy passage. But again, like in the first song, everything seems to fall into place naturally; and again, the ending part has a compelling emphasis on the last words of the lyrics.... "Doomed and blessed to live and die again."
And these two last phrases of the two songs seem to sum up what this EP is all about. The lyrics perfectly fit the atmosphere of the music and Nate Garrett's haunting vocals always point out their relevance.
What a stunning first release, with an already distinctive style of emotionally driven Doom, tinged with psychedelic and stoner vibes. The beautiful melodies combined with the vocal brilliance and great songwriting are simply mind-blowing.
The song "Specter of Ruin" is featured on The Wicked Lady Show 116
