Album Review: Spirit Possession – Cathedral Speech
Reviewed by Sam Jones
One rising act that many have taken notice of has been Spirit Possession, the two-piece black metal act out of Oregon, United States, whose particular brand of visceral extreme metal has not gone unnoticed. Formed in 2019 the band released their first Demo a year later, soon succeeded by their debut self-titled album that did well to introduce audiences to their sound. But it was their 2023 sophomore album, …Of The Sign, that catapulted Spirit Possession unto extreme metal’s gathering plethora of rising names, with critical acclaim and a swarm of fans joining their midst. Last year saw them release a Compilation but come October 2nd this year, Spirit Possession shall unleash their third full length work: Cathedral Speech. I’m really curious what these guys do here as they go three-for-three alongside Profound Lore Records, preparing to whip out another slab of black metal that only they manage to conjure. Let’s find out.
If Spirit Possession’s unique glance on black metal wasn’t already apparent, the opening to this record depicts that difference immediately with spectral riffs seemingly torn out of an 80s speed record before morphing into something cinematic. The guitar tone adopted is thin, paper thin, yet I think that does the job of pulling you in. Not only are you curious by the tone applied but that thinner and visceral sound grants the songwriting a lethality that may not be present in other releases nearer the time. In addition the thin tone pulls audiences in that much further if only to get a better understanding of what’s the songwriting takes them. Whatever happens, fans will be engaged from start to finish, awash in slicing, chopping riffs, conveying you across with knives and saws aloft.
Since Spirit Possession is only two guys performing all music on album, the end product naturally feels more DIY than other black metal acts would be. Black metal, by its nature, has always championed that raw soundscape and Spirit Possession are certainly carrying that torch. I can envisage many older black metal fans taking to this record especially given how old school the band hold themselves as, applying their efforts towards honing a sound hearkening Bathory’s earlier releases. It’s rather unique though as you’ll receive moments of tapping solos within songwriting where the blackened aesthetic isn’t necessarily apparent, but given the direction they take you down with each track, it feels apt. If anything, Cathedral Speech has more in common with Venom and Midnight than it does with your typified black metal in 2026.
Another aspect Spirit Possession achieve on record here is immersion. No, this is not atmospheric immersion or the cementing of any feasible scale; this is immersion by submerging you into every track they perform. With every track bar one being a longer affair, the band have plenty of opportunities to keep you invested and going with their performance, yet whilst they evidently play fast it’s never so fast that you can feel the track audibly running along. The record is always at your side, ensuring you know what’s happening and that each shift in the songwriting is cohesive and laid out. Spirit Possession effectively grant you the query of how long you wish to go on for but, since their songwriting is so entertaining, why would you want to dip out? It therefore allows you to really ease yourself into each track, to give them weight and presence; there’s never an instance where a track feels lacklustre nor unimportant to Cathedral Speech’s running. What has been included has been so for essential purposes for to remove any one wold be to alter the feeling this record provides entirely.
Spirit Possession are not what you’d deem technical with their playing nor their songwriting, and yet their performance on record certainly hints they might be moving in that direction. When you listen to a sequence, pay attention, for that section is about to alter into something else very quickly whilst retaining the vibe of the track in question. That’s a very difficult feat to pull off because you need to keep audiences entertained and glued in whilst keeping your songwriting endlessly moving and in such a way that feels natural too. It extends to the drumming too which is excellent as not only are bass drums firing nearly all the time but the blast beats, the kit overall, are forever alternating from what you had earlier to what you have now; it’s rare to hear the drums persistently dish out the same beat and even then, in a split second, they may perform something left-field and keep you wondering what just happened.
In conclusion, Cathedral Speech is a real oddity in black metal this year. It retains the signature Spirit Possession sound where the two guys are writing and playing what they want but it can’t say for sure whether they’re looking to experiment here or if this is a direction they’re seeking to undergo. As aforementioned this record has more in line with Venom or Midnight, injecting blackened speed metal into their stabbing and razor-sharp soundscape that gives their changing songwriting a peculiar though fluidic identity. It manages to always shift and transform whilst remaining quintessentially Spirit Possession. I think many will take to it and be content with the band’s decision but I think this might be a record others will need to warm to. Regardless the band are on to another winner here.
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