RESTLESS SPIRIT

Restless Spirit is back with another explosion of traditional metal. This Long Island, New York trio belts out Black Sabbath-sounding tracks that include elements of doom, progressive, and stoner metal mixed to perfection, creating a touch of psychedelic fuzz. Singer/guitarist Paul Aloisio has a cool voice—a mix of Ozzy Osbourne and the late Layne Staley—giving that smooth, cool, dark direction. Bassist Marc Morello sets that silky doom vibe, and drummer Jon Gusman floods these songs with groovy beats.

The album begins with the fast-paced, Black Sabbath-sounding track, ‘The Burning Need’. This is upbeat but still has that Ozzy Osbourne feel to the vocals, creating a touch of doom. What a great start to the album. ‘Hallowed’ begins with a killer, heavy riff that kicks in with a massive drum-and-bass sound. Again, the vocals absolutely drive this track, and I get huge Alice In Chains vibes from this song. The darker, slower vocals really push that stoner-doom sound. ‘Red In Tooth And Claw’ has a thick, very heavy sound. It is one of my personal favourites on the album, with a much darker persona; stoner metal at its best. ‘Desire Lines’ has a cool guitar intro, light and dark all in one. At 1:21, the vocals rip in, and the song takes off very heavy. This track has a killer groove and touches of progressive elements. A fantastic guitar solo tops this off.

‘Desolation’s Wake’ rocks right out of the gate and is a fast-paced song. This would be a great addition to a live set. Faster vocals showcase Paul’s vocal prowess and range. This is another personal favourite of mine. ‘Ember’ is a beautiful, acoustic guitar-driven instrumental that demonstrates how talented and diverse this band is. ‘Time And Distance’ continues the Black Sabbath-esque assault with heavy riffs and doom vocals. That bass line at 4:12 is fantastic, darkening this song to the max. ‘Phantom Pain’ is the last track, which begins with a killer guitar riff intro. Starting heavy but slowing when the vocals kick in makes this song super heavy and sludgy. There are so many cool riffs on this song, and I love how it speeds up and slows down. It is a great way to end a superb album.

One thing is for sure: Restless Spirit is criminally underrated, and metalheads who listen to any metal genre should check this album out. Top-class musicianship, vocals, and writing make this album a “must-listen” in 2026. Restless Spirit is set to release on May 8th, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records.