Spirit Mother Proves There’s Psych Rock and Dirt in Their “Veins”

It’s not every day you come across a sound like Spirit Mother – a blend of grungey vocals, swirling guitars, throat-shredding screams, and violin strains. This rare combination forms the backbone of their music, and it seems to be what’s in store for their upcoming sophomore record – Trails. The American rock band first formed in Long Beach, California, before their paths took them across the country to Oregon, Los Angeles, and Buffalo, as well as on tours throughout the world supporting 2020’s debut full-length, Cadets. With their sophomore record approaching, we get a taste of the album’s second single – “Veins”.

Where Trails‘ first single, “Wolves”, featured acoustic guitars and a more sparse, restrained feel, “Veins” is comparatively all-out in its aggression, showcasing another dimension of Spirit Mother. Imagine Alice In Chains meets The Hunter-era Mastodon. Even though it is largely one chord progression throughout the track, “Veins” covers a lot of ground with off-kilter, pounding riffs, jarring chords, memorable vocals, and a sparse, watery outro. Songwriter, bassist, and primary vocalist Armand Lance describes the track as:

‘…a 3 legged chair. A minimalist nightmare scenario of atonality balanced with an undercurrent of melodic lines through the violin and vocals. 1 chord progression with a few variations. Nothing is in it that doesn’t NEED to be there.‘

This sparseness and intention gives “Veins” its momentous aggression, yet all four members of Spirit Mother shine throughout its 4 minutes. SJ’s violin creeps subtly throughout Landon Cisneros’ versatile drumming and Sean McCormick’s range of riffs, discordant chords, and trippy guitar lines. All of this is complemented by Lance’s roars and strained vocals. With just this track and “Wolves” available, we already get a hint of the versatility and focus that Trails promises. The record came to be on Lance’s ranch between mustang wrangling and cattle work – this setting seeps through “Veins” in its stark yet imposing structure and ominous outlook.

Trails will be released through Heavy Psych Records on September 13. You can pre-order the record here, and follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.