Review by Josh Felty
Rating: **
I picture Downspirit as this Bon Jovi cover band from 1987. You know the one: everybody but the lead singer wants to play the Megadeth and Slayer. Which isn't a bad idea. But the frontman has a good idea going. You can be poetically savage and dark all damn day, but what the tush doesn't start pouring in until you have an 'edge'.
Downspirit's music actually combines the greatest part of that 'edge' from the 80's hair metal days with some of that dark revelry that made Metallica a household name. The pounding riff action is there, tandem with some soulful rock balladry and...wait a tick, rap? Sadly yes, rap-rock is not dead. In fact, it's mutated into something brand spankin' new. Take a whiff of "Love Song" and you'll hear a mixture of blues harp, shred metal, Winger, and Kid Rock.
No kidding.
If you're a child of the 80's, or you were in your teens during that time, you may listen to this and cry. But allow me to elaborate. Some of you will cry and muse, "God, I miss those days!" while you stroke your Dokken tee with the arms cut off. You remember the one. You made it with Cynthia Whatsherface in the back of your Trans Am and used it for clean-up. Then, the rest of said ilk will cry and think, "Damn, I'll just stop this nonsense right now!" and you'll have a long discussion with yourself about how the talkbox really was an overrated "instrument".
I'm not gonna completely dog this album or any fan of Downspirit's style. Maybe I found it hard to take these fellows seriously when I saw their band photo. I wish I could post it here; if you've read this and feel intrigued, send me an email or catch me on Facebook and I'll gladly share the pic. It's classy, to say the very least. Again, my intention here is not to completely dog these guys. But there's this one track, "Life's a Bitch", that seriously says something to the effect of "Life's a bitch/Until you screw it" or whatever.
I honestly didn't care to look up the lyrics. If you have the motivation and free time to listen to hang onto every lyric on this monster, by all means. Until next time, folks. I'll be here, protecting yon Faithful Readership from music atrocities and hopefully not glowing too bright for the great works out there.