SpiritWorld – Helldorado (Review)

SpiritWorld have saddled up once again and are set to release their third album, Helldorado, worldwide on March 21st via Century Media Records.

The band has always excelled at blending the hard-hitting aggression of metal with an unmistakable Western vibe. These elements are once again present throughout their latest album. The Western-influenced atmosphere kicks off with the opener “Abilene Grime”. It starts as if you’re sitting in a saloon, enjoying a drink to cool off, accompanied by a honky-tonk shuffle. But before you know it, a revolver is pointed at your head, and the song shifts into a hybrid of thrash and hardcore. The growling vocals and ominous atmosphere give the track a sense of both danger and adventure. Characterized by punishing Slayer-esque riffs, it doesn’t take long before the first person is riddled with bullets.

Diversity is a key feature of Helldorado. The album feels epic, thanks to its Western storytelling aesthetic combined with the band’s metal roots. It stands apart from the traditional values of the genre, establishing its own unique foundation.

Tracks like “Western Stars & The Apocalypse” are marked by a haunting, almost atmospheric quality, which is perfectly complemented by a thrashing rhythm. SpiritWorld truly shine with their brilliant songwriting. “Waiting on the Reaper” might sound catchy at first, but the band cleverly mixes this with hard mosh passages in an ideal way. The love for heavy breakdowns and aggressive riffs is the DNA of Helldorado. “Stigmata Scars” is likely the heaviest track on the album, with Slayer-influenced riffs that give it a high level of intensity.

However, the band’s latest work also offers some surprising twists. “Bird Song of Death” feels like a country hit with subtle punk influences. While such elements were previously used as interludes on earlier albums, here they are much more daring, experimenting with the sound. (You could hear similar influences on releases like SpiritWorld / Black Coffee or Viper Blood).

Tracks like “Prayer Lips” or “Annihilism“ provide a nice contrast, perfect for a relaxed evening around the campfire. These are more country-punk stomps that offer a break from the thrash and hardcore-influenced tracks.

Helldorado feels like a journey through the rugged landscapes of both metal and the Wild West. The aggressive heaviness, Western imagery, and country-punk elements are the core of an absolute banger of an album.