#38 - Top of 2018

Spiral Skies - Blues for a Dying Planet

In number 38 of the best albums of 2018, we have the debut album from Swedish psychedelic hard rockers Spiral Skies. Fronted by Frida Eurenius (ex-Lapis Lazuli) and complemented  by a band of unknown first class musicians, the band is another excellent entry to the retro female fronted rock/metal bands that have really broken through in the 2010s. The album is  dominated by mellow melodies accompanied by hard riffs and the big voice of Frida that sells the whole package. Opener "Awakening" is an indication of the more hard side of the band, while follow up "Dark Side of the Cross" combines melodic mellow guitars with a more symphonic attitude on the vocal side. "The Wizard's Ball" & "Danse Macabre" showcase the more psychedelic side of the band with the former being more straightforward while the latter has swing elements reminiscent of Diablo Swing Orchestra. "Labyrinth of the mind" walks a more familiar Doom/Psychedelic path while "Shattered Hopes" brings echoes of Rush to mind. "Left is Right and Right is Left Behind" continues in more psychedelic routes, with sprinkles of doom throughout, while closing track "The Prisoner" is  more of a classic rock/metal epic tune. Overall the album's best features are the awe-inspiring vocal performance by Frida coupled with excellent ideas in the songwriting department and shifting tones across the album, experimenting with various classical forms of rock. While the band is still trying to find a personal sound, it takes us along for the ride on a journey across the sounds of various classic rock permutations, making this an exciting debut worth recommending.

92.3/100

Below is the music video for "The Wizard's Ball".