Since forming in 2019, Portland, Oregon duo Spirit Possession has peddled sinsational thrashy black metal. Released in 2020, their self-titled debut supplied a solid if one-note dose of chaotic metal madness, but it was 2023 follow-up Of the Sign… that nabbed my attention. On it, Spirit Possession funneled their blackened anarchy into tighter compositions that slithered and snaked with lithe technicality. Now Spirit Possession returns with third album Cathedral Speech, and it flits and flutters with the band’s signature blend of restless riffage and garage rock aesthetics. When all is said and done, does Cathedral Speech conjure hymns of a higher power?
Black metal often gets associated with trem-heavy guitar lines, but the genre rarely exhibits the riff-forward vitality that Spirit Possession harnesses. Guitarist and vocalist S. looses family-style platters of noodles on Cathedral Speech, taking listeners through a serpentine journey of lawless leads (“The Sharpening”), frenetic hammer-ons (“Hanged Angels as Patternwalls”), and thrash-forward chug-a-lugs (“Cathedral Speech”). Meanwhile, drummer A. attacks her kit with a like-minded, organic philosophy as she tumbles across snares, toms and cymbals with a nimble grace that unfurls in chaotic spurts (“Second Liturgy”) before receding into restrained timekeeping (“Trinity Possessor”). Together, the dual forces behind Spirit Possession radiate the aura of DIY music, steeping Cathedral Speech’s atmospheres in primitively boisterous black metal while simultaneously retaining a firm melodic footing.
Cathedral Speech sees Spirit Possession dart between tracks and tempos with wile and guile, restlessly plunging into assorted paces while maintaining cohesion through the album’s forty-three minutes. Of the Sign… explored slightly rowdier compositions that injected more Venom compared to Cathedral Speech, which (relatively speaking) spools out a little more slowly. Still, Venom supplies an apt comparison for Spirit Possession’s raw energy, especially at Cathedral Speech’s peak energy. “Hanged Angels as Patternwalls” buzzes with an unrefined air that harkens back to Welcome to Hell, “Cathedral Speech” bounces and squeals with Devil Master’s punk-fueled mischief, and the ending triad of “First Levitation,” “Second Liturgy,” and “Trinity Possessor” recalls Negative Plane and Aura Noir’s slow-burn acidity. Altogether, Cathedral Speech elicits a rollicking good time that preserves Spirit Possession’s core charm while advancing their songwriting to promote a stronger sense of unity during its runtime.
With Cathedral Speech succeeding on so many fronts, the only sin holding it back is Spirit Possession’s dedication to their sonic palette. Not to suggest the record is one-note, because Cathedral Speech teems with interesting pockets of riffs and ideas. It’s only that I find myself occasionally getting lost in the album’s folds, and while I don’t mind the journey through Spirit Possession’s songs, they would benefit from more distinct personalities to differentiate them. The final three tracks in particular can run together, and crafting hooks and anchors to center listeners would help orient them in such turbulent, free-form arrangements. Of the Sign… combatted this with a more diverse range of track lengths, and having a concise, snappy track or two to latch onto may have helped break up some of Cathedral Speech’s evenness. More positively, the production nails the primal style of Spirit Possession’s trademark hubbub without ever losing sight of individual performances, and the overall duration feels just right.
Album number three finds Spirit Possession exerting more control over their tumultuous brand of black metal, and immense promise lurks in this direction. Spirit Possession established a successful template for the duo before Of the Sign… cranked the dials up and delved into bedlam with renewed focus and fury. The songwriting on Cathedral Speech sounds more mature than on earlier releases, but trades that for a smidge of Spirit Possession’s eagerness and pluck. Even so, I greatly enjoyed my time with Cathedral Speech, and with a little more fine-tuning I think that Spirit Possession’s next platter can fully realize the band’s potential. Until then, I’ll keep spinning the good word and communing with Spirits.
Rating: Very Good
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Sepulchral Voice Records / Profound Lore Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: October 2nd, 2026