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Spirit Mother has brought some unique elements to psychedelic rock over the last six years, as their 2020 debut Cadets seamlessly wove violin and some folkier elements into that hazy and crunchy foundation. Sometimes the album went a bit more rock ‘n roll while other moments leaned into the low and slow approach, but it was clear the band had a bit more variety than the average genre act. 2024’s Trails leaned more into darker atmosphere and the folk/Americana side of things without losing that rock ‘n roll spirit, and two years later Spirit Mother has further transformed their sound on Thistle. Where Trails often hinted at the full-on leap into Americana-tinged psychedelic rock and some heavier elements, this effort fully makes the leap. It’s one of those albums that immediately feels like something special and has hooks that grab you from the get-go alongside nuances that don’t reveal themselves until a few times through.
Opener “Dog Machine” leaves a strong first impression and showcases how dynamic of a sound Spirit Mother has. You’re greeted with softer guitar and drums that have a bit of a bluesier swagger to them, but once the violin comes in the sound gets much denser and draws you in. From there the band settles into a driving rhythm, but there are a few sections towards the end where they slow down a bit and let the atmosphere build. The initial sound feels somewhere between bluesy rock ‘n roll, Americana, and even some 70s hard rock but there’s a darker slant to the melodies that give things a different feel. From there things slow down a bit on the next couple of tracks, and this is where the band shifts towards folk and Americana elements. “Coat of Arms” has a much moodier approach, where the violins, guitar, and bass sweep across the recording with a hazy, smoky tone that feels like you could be listening to it in a remote cabin or on top of a mountain peak. “Narrows” does something similar, but there’s a bit more weight to the instrumentation that gives me hints of doom and more metallic sheen. But as with their previous album, Spirit Mother doesn’t stay in one place for too long and as you approach the second half Thistle reveals additional elements. “Crux” is one of the biggest surprises, as it whips the tempo up into more of a punk or garage rock cadence and has a lot more intensity than one might expect considering the music that preceded it. But it works well within the context of the album, and the remaining tracks retain a bit of this intensity. The title track really does a great job with this, letting the layers of instrumentation build to crashing peaks that really pull you in. Some of the layers don’t fully reveal themselves the first time through, but there are plenty of riffs that do stick with you from the start and that makes this album have a lot of staying power.
Vocalist/guitarist Armand Lance has one of those voices that really draws you in, and his performance is another area where Spirit Mother shines. Lance has a knack for starting off at a much softer, brooding cadence and letting things build into a more explosive and powerful pitch. At times the pitch has a bit of a grunge feel to it, while other moments channel classic blues rock and rock ‘n roll, but along with the lyrics there is a darker slant to things that makes things feel more unique. Lance is supported by SJ and Mia Rose, who contribute singing alongside dual violins, and the way that their voices harmonize results in some stunning moments. The harmonies are where more of the folk and Americana side comes into play, and the peaks are mesmerizing. Alongside the unexpected shift into some heavier instrumentals on some songs, there are also some growls at certain points that caught me by surprise the first few times and adds just the right burst of intensity into the mix.
On album number three Spirit Mother leans further into Americana and folk, while also injecting some heavier and darker elements into their hazy foundation. The resulting combination of styles feels like something special and makes for an incredible listen, as the darker and smokier tones fuse well with the more upbeat and bluesy moments. I can’t think of too many other bands that give off a 70s hard rock and psych tone one moment before transitioning to doom, Americana, and everything in between, and they pull it off in a way that is truly compelling. Thistle is available from Sound of Liberation Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg