Adrift in the Heavy of Spirit Adrift
New album, final tour, infinite emotion
Spirit Adrift. Such a cool band name, and that’s often the first impression you get before the long bond is cemented. Became a favorite of mine the instant I saw those two evocative words strung together in a Spin newsletter in 2021. The name speaks to who I am in a way, and I bet other fans feel the same.
Their music is even more moving. Founded by guitarist/vocalist Nate Garrett, Spirit Adrift formed as a doom metal act in the mid-2010s, but by the time I’d found out about them, their sound had transitioned to traditional heavy metal. Fine by me, though the doom elements were still present to some degree and added to the tonic: meaty chops, driving grooves, memorable melodies, lyrics that bring self-reflection. With no sugar coating. “Get your shit together, pal,” but from a mindful state. Another reason to like them.
Garrett claims “there’s a curse on this band.” I’m not going to relay the history, but the latest piece of news came in late 2025 when his wife was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Brutal. European tour, canceled. He threw his stake in the ground and declared Spirit Adrift’s next album to be their last. The final show was on March 20, 2026. Three weeks later, Infinite Illumination dropped.
And just like that, it was over. I’d never see them live.
Then, on April 24, 2026…a miracle. While scrolling my Instagram feed, I noticed a post announcing that Spirit Adrift was replacing Fucli on The Decibel Magazine Tour—and hey! they had a date at The Brooklyn Monarch. I bought a ticket and only had to wait until May Day.
Now, Garrett has said he’ll continue writing and performing beyond the monthlong trek, just not under the Spirit Adrift moniker. I’ll check out whatever outfit he’s fronting whenever he’s in town down the road, but understanding that it might be my first and final live experience with the band was odd. Surreal. Especially for someone who loves hitting as many shows as possible by the same groups. Wasn’t anxious and wasn’t setting any expectations, either. Enjoy the music and remain present in the moment. Solid headspace for the journey.
“Sorcerer’s Fate” and its crushing outro jam, steeped in magic and not of the white kind, was the opener. Courtesy of bassist Sonny DeCarlo and drummer Michael Arellano, the bottom end during “Spectral Savior” kept increasing the energy with a deliberate pace. The title track of Spirit Adrift’s third album, “Divided By Darkness” arrived with a roar from the crowd, such is the song’s legacy appeal. “Hear Her” is short, but the more upbeat tempo created fresh momentum. A trio of cuts off the new album ended the set, with the lengthy “Buried In The Shadow Of The Cross” garnering the most emotional impact in me. Cathartic. Garrett and guitarist Jason Dahlke spent the evening exchanging solos and complementing each other’s wizardry.
And just like that, it was over. I’d seen them live.
The Adrift part of their name fuels a sense of floating in their music, but their style grounds it all with a dose of reality. The balance that Garrett’s achieved in his compositions is a critical aspect of the band, and Infinite Illumination is a shining example. After listening to it a bunch of times: It’s a pure synthesis of the group from the start through today, an ideal mix of doom heritage in a trad metal wrapper. Or is it the other way around? Garrett’s goal was to make “the heaviest, most evil record within the stylistic confines of Spirit Adrift,” and that message is transmitted loud and clear over the eight tracks. Worth every second.
I don’t wear merch of a band I haven’t seen live. Even with Spirit Adrift’s imminent retirement, it wouldn’t have felt right had I not had the opportunity. Plenty of people buy shirts and hoodies of groups they’ve never seen, I’m not judging, but here, gratefully, serendipity intervened like the truth striking at a point of clarity. Which is where I was at, smiling as the quartet thanked us and began breaking down gear. A couple of breaths, then away I sauntered to plunk down $30 for a Spirit Adrift tee.
Spirit Adrift 05/01/2026 Setlist
Sorcerer’s Fate, Spectral Savior, Divided By Darkness, Hear Her, Born In A Bad Way, Buried In The Shadow Of The Cross, Window Within