We’ve all seen and been through some shit the last year and a half, and there are very few of us who have not been impacted in some meaningful way. One of the hardest parts of that has been the inability to see people for so long, the limited chances to do the things we love, and just the mystery surrounding safety and whether getting back to something of a normal routine is a good idea.

Building on some of those ideas of living in uncertain times and trying to find strength and perseverance, classic metal warriors Spirit Adrift return just when we need them most with killer three-track EP “Forge Your Future,” their first exclusively for Century Media after years with 20 Buck Spin. These tracks lift you up and make your adrenaline surge in the best way possible as they capture you with the undeniable power of heavy metal and help you find some level of power, even when it’s tough to do so. Nate Garrett’s vocals continue to get even better with each release, and his songwriting chops and fiery guitar work are getting further chiseled, while longtime drummer Marcus Bryant keeps the power humming, driving energy through your bones. Preston Bryant added wizard-like synth work to these songs, supplying a neat spacey texture, and bassist Sonny DeCarlo will join the band on the road to help present these killer songs.      

The title track gets things going with clean lines and then punches open with some great guitar work and the verses driving the emotion. “I think of every choice that I have ever made, and every road that led to them,” Garrett commands on the bridge, before powering on the chorus, wailing, “I saw the future and it set me free, the stars aligned and cleared the way.” It’s impossible to not get this damn thing stuck in your head. Later, searing soloing gets your blood rushing anew, group “oh-oh” calls instill classic metal spirit, and the track trickles out into a stream of energy. “Wake Up” is another great one, starting with riffs chugging and metal’s deep roots surfacing. The verses punch, the melody is overwhelming in a good way, and the chorus is another scorcher that’ll be massive live. “Wake up, who don’t you open your eyes? Wake up, why don’t you open you mind?” Garrett implores, easily sticking to your ribs. The track gets more and more adventurous, digging back into that old Ozzy/Dio terrain, but in a way that honors their legacy and builds it into the future. Just an awesome song. “Invisible Enemy” is the closer, starting with drums blasting and building its tempo with alluring force. The track is big and defiant, with Garrett warning, “The world will see your fate, there will be no escape,” over the brimming chorus. Everything keeps churning until a wave of serenity washes over, with the guitars cooling and coating with ice. Things pick up again with the band charging and the fires blazing, and alien synth joins the mix at the end, slipping out into strange cosmos.

This might just be a steppingstone EP to Spirit Adrift’s next full-length, the title of which obviously will start with a G, but “Forge Your Future” is a vital release with some of the band’s best work. Feel like we say that every time out, but Spirit Adrift is one of those rare bands that manages to improve and refine with each record, growing stronger and solidifying the sinew. This is a great three-track collection, one that’ll stick inside your head long after it ends.   

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritAdrift

To buy the album, go here: http://www.cmdistro.com/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.centurymedia.com/