Spirit Machines: Feel Again (Album Review)

Last September the four members of Spirit Machines, Pepper Rose, Sergio Marticorena, Michael Collins and DAve Crespo, traveled across the country to Boston. There they recorded their debut album Feel Again in three days at Chillhouse Studio. The album probes a connection between heavy metal and indie rock with various punk textures. The record opens with guitar chords that gradually build in tempo and move on to be incorporated with drums and vocals on “Watch it Burns”. The track themes itself around the idea of releasing yourself from “the shackles of past wounds” and stepping into the present with a newfound sense of empowerment. This sentiment is echoed in the following track “Eye of the Storm”, which possesses a pop-ier tempo compared to its precedent. The shift feels more authentic than the heavy rock undertones presented in the first track and better suits the capabilities of Spirit Machines. Pepper Rose’s vocals are the strongest asset to the band and is used as the centerpiece of the track.. The emphasis on vocals and the change in tempo results in a honeyed song that resembles The Cranberries.   

Look for the full album release here on Thursday 4/2. Peace! Spirit Machines © 2020 All rights reserved Go back inside Where the flames are licking Change your stripes Change your stars But the clock is ticking You’re paralyzed but don’t think twice If you want to gain control Drag it out Or let it take you whole Relight the fire within Hold a match to the world Shed your skin Watch it burn Go back in time Fight for your life I know you feel it Reach for the knife Follow the red line Reopen the wound And dig for the bullet Made up your mind To fly through the window Watch your life from a cloud While northeast winds blow Blood sacrifice But where else can find What you’ve left behind Relight the fire within Hold a match to the world Shed your skin Watch it burn! Go back in time Fight for your life I know you feel it Reach for the knife Follow the red line Reopen the wound And dig for the bullet This house is on fire Your heart is on fire It’s down to the wire Go back in time Fight for your life I know you feel it Reach for the knife Follow the red line Reopen the wound And dig for the bullet Follow the red line Follow the red line Follow the red line And dig for the bullet

“Portland”, the third song on the album, marks a thematic and tonal shift. The modulated lyrics tell the tale of the many Salt Lakers who migrate to Portland as a means of escape from Utah’s collective culture. However, these individuals are faced with reality and isolation once they make their pilgrimage to the once promised land of Portland. It’s less aggressive than its counterparts on the album with its medium tempo and melancholy. This softness bleeds into their next song “Echoing Sound”, a modern take on John Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl. Similar to “Eye of the Storm”, “Echoing Sound” contains a texture that parallels ‘90s grunge. However, its chorus fails to captivate it’s listeners. Spirit Machines attempts to use a reverb technique in the track that can be perceived as inauthentic and forced. The themes of this particular song would perhaps be better elucidated with a more memorable hook. 

“The Beach”, the penultimate track, is a ballad that calls for the band to remain united despite the passage of time. The song’s personal message and island-feel isolates itself from the rest of the album. Feel Again is homogenous in its sound which brings into question whether “The Beach” would have been better served as a single. The tracks on Feel Again exhibit narratives that fall into the category of  universal feelings, however this final track breaks the ambience that the other tracks were initially constructing. 

© Spirit Machines 2020 Recorded at Chillhouse Studios in Charlestown, MA. Engineered mixed and mastered by Will Holland. Pepper Rose- vocals Sergio Marticorena- bass Michael Collins- drums DAve Crespo- guitar Pomegranate art work adapted with permission from a 1966 Editha Spencer relief print. Special thanks to our friends and family especially Angela Evans, Trevin, Melissa Crespo, Pat Rutchaplee, and Paul Spencer. We couldn't have done it without the support of our SLC scene. You know who you are!

Though musically Feel Again seems to blend in with many other records that belong in the heavy rock genre, Pepper Rose’s stentorian vocals help diversify Spirit Machines. Spirit Machines holds a lot of potential in their lyrics and vocals and it will be exciting to see how they progress as a band.