From Bandcamp, “Dry Soil” is the fourth full-length album by the Spanish band ADRIFT. After more than 25 years of playing together, they return with a new album that once again traps us in their characteristic atmosphere, full of heavy, repetitive and twisted riffs, taking the natural evolution of the band one-step further after all these years. “Dry Soil” is about the limits to which the most basic aspects of humanity are pushed, about how we deal with the conflicts and contradictions we face on a daily basis, and about how we absolutely dry everything out, squeezing it to the last drop.”

The album has six songs, and “Overload” is first. It begins with a fuzzy, dark riff, some dissonance, and thick tension. The tension is like a coiled snake, waiting for his perfect opportunity to strike. He waits patiently, until the moment is golden, and kill he does. The vocals have a deadly rasp to them as well, and the bottom end of this song is cavernous. “Concrete” is another dark and filthy offering. If you came to this album looking for butterflies and rainbows, you will be sorely mistaken. This song is a thick, firm slab of anger that is tightly compacted. Another way of putting it is that it’s like Mike Tyson’s first-round uppercut.

“Edge” rumbles forward like an old school steam engine on partially greased tracks…you can feel ever bump, every turn, and every change of speed. Progressive elements are more noticeable here, and the band takes whatever chances they want to without regard for your feelings. “Restart” has a faster and more straightforward groove to it, but it remains as black as your soul. The vocals are delivered with the same range, creating a layer of psychedelica to go along with its spirited pace. “Blood Kills the Soul” moves like a serial killer stalking his prey. Each step is pre-planned, and calculated, so that he can make sure he is not seen. It also carries with it that sixth sense that something is wrong, and you are only a few steps away from your doom.

“Bonfire” closes the album, and I picture a run-away one. A bonfire that rages out of control can represent the illusion of control slipping away—what was once a source of warmth and comfort becomes destructive and unpredictable. This could symbolize personal downfall, the collapse of a carefully built structure, or a situation spiraling beyond one’s grasp. What makes “Dry Soil” particularly striking is its ability to be both suffocating and hypnotic. After all these years, the band hasn’t just continued their trajectory—they’ve sharpened their vision, refining their sonic nihilism into something even more potent. “Dry Soil” doesn’t just reflect the exhaustion of a world pushed to its limits; it embodies it. A crushing, thought-provoking testament to the never-ending conflict between survival and self-destruction.