Lost Spirit—Disappointment (2021)

Details

Released on Sunday 6 June 2021

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Band

Unknown

Tracks

Intro
Disappointment
I see eternal
Why do we need God?
No strength

Review

A few weeks ago, I received a direct message on Instagram from Belarussian band Lost Spirit, or at least from someone who signed off as “Fat B.”, inviting me to review their debut, demo EP Disappointment (2021). I was immediately hoping that the name wouldn’t be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The ‘Lost Spirit project’ Bandcamp page describes this EP as a “conceptual DIY doom metal project. High art in slow heavy riffs.”

It is important to point out straight away that this is a demo. The quality is rough. As is the tuning. From the opening track, “Intro” (track 1) neither the guitar nor bass appear to be in tune with one another. Even the following track, “Disappointment” (track 2) which features a heavy, dissonant riff, I can’t quite work out whether the guitar is out of tune or whether the guitar is meant to sound quite that… sour.

Again, the vocals sound tinny, tentative and out of tune.

But… as with looking at houses, it’s always important to look for the potential. And this EP does show a lot of potential. The songs have atmosphere, dynamics and take the listener on a journey. The doom-laden riffs are simple but effective. “I see eternal” (track 3) builds nicely with layers of guitar and bass giving one another space but holding each other in tension.

With better production and dare I say it, a more expressive singer, “Why do we need God?” (track 4) could be a very effective, deeply heavy doom song… it could even be played a little slower to maximise that crushing riff.

The EP sees itself out with “No strength” (track 5) whose main chord progression is doubled by a sorrowful lead guitar picking out the same riff with single notes. The vocals… well, they wobble a bit and as the notes are held on these long melodies they get sharper and sharper, and as the track progresses it seems to just get more and more out of tune. But this is a rough demo, right? The spoken voiceover towards the end of the track just edges this track into Spinal Tap “Stonehenge” territory and doesn’t really recover from that loss of confidence. But at least Spinal Tap were in tune.

Conclusion

This EP definitely has a lot of potential. But, to be honest, I think it would need a lot of production, certainly more than one guitar tuner, and a singer that can steadily hold a note to turn this into a polished slab of crushing doom metal. Candlemass it is not, a disappointment? Maybe, but let’s hold full judgement until after Fat B.’s finished recording the debut album.

Review score: 55%