Musical labels are just to give a helping hand to know what all the fans are about to hear of a release, not to be a model where people must fit in. But as usual, a great part of people seems to love to fit on such social models, when in reality, you're free to hear and enjoy what you want, without having to answer some 'rules' of the scene. To disobey musical models is what makes things evolve, and one fine example is what the North American quartet SPIRITWORLD. Their first album, "Pagan Rhythms", shows it clearly.

Combining aspects of Thrash Metal and Death Metal with an abrasive Groove insight, and putting some Country Rock and Hardcore influences, their musical work is modern, personal and full of an aggressive energy. It can rip ears apart, indeed, and the music has a tendency to increase elements from such musical genres in some moments (as can be heard on some Death Metal piledriving drums heard on "Unholy Passages", and in the same song, some Old School Thrash Metal riffs can be heard). It's ferocious, so take care with your ears and brains. Sam Pura was brought into the studio to work as producer and sound engineer, and helped with the mastering. So the sound quality is defined to a point that anyone can understand what's being played without problems. But as mentioned above, the band plays in an aggressive way, so be prepared to some heavy and distorted loads that are in evidenced in the sonority. It's a very good work, indeed.

Some of their lyrical themes deal with North American paganism; others have a darker approach, just to create the right feeling for their songs. And the abrasive and catchy rhythms of "Pagan Rhythms" (a solid and technical work can be heard on bass guitar and drums playing), the brutal grasp of the aggressive "Unholy Passages" (the contrasts between Thrash Metal riffs and some Death Metal blast beats is a very good strategy, creating the right instrumental sheath for the screams of the vocals), the Death Metal adrenaline that "Night Terrors" bears, the Country Rock Groove and elements that tempers "Armageddon Honkytonk & Saloon" (along with some modern Hardcore bits) and "Ritual Human Sacrifice" (pay some attention to the clean vocals and choirs at the end of the song) are the right ones for a first visit to their musical slaughterhouse.

"Pagan Rhythms" is a very good release, and SPIRITWORLD shows enough energy to keep on their career path and crack the tectonic plates of Earth apart!