Doom metal savants, Restless Spirit, enter the live album foray with their brand new The Doomed And The Dead Live EP (via Magnetic Eye Records). This release is important as it is timed right before they hit the road in support of The Obsessed’s The Church Within 30th Anniversary US Tour and gives fans a preview of how killer this band is live. The Obsessed have a great support act in Restless Spirit, which will no doubt make their anniversary tour that much more complete.

Recorded live at RPM Fest in Massachusetts, U.S in September 2023, the EP begins with ‘Judgement And Exile’ from their 2021 album Blood Of The Old Gods; a fitting start to a great live offering. The song has a cool Black Sabbath vibe that is certain to get fans on their feet. This is my personal favourite from the album and it sounds awesome live. ‘All Furies’ rips in with a wicked fast guitar intro from their massively popular album Afterimage released last year. This is a fast paced, heavy track that shows off how diverse this band is. Another superb track that sounds fantastic live. ‘Cascade Immolator’ rips another heavy presence to their live set with a heavy doom sound that will no doubt conjure goosebumps.

‘Lord Of The New Depression’ (from the 2019 release of the same name) returns the listener to another Black Sabbath friendly vibe. ‘From The Dust Returned’ is a fitting end to this live EP with a heavy, bluesy doom vibe that leaves you feeling like you just experienced something incredibly special.

From the amazing vocals – all the way to the technical musicianship – this live EP has it all. The production is fantastic and projects a larger than life sound. Being a fan of live albums, I like a sound that can transport me to the performance… and this EP does just that. There is something for every metal fan, and its inclusion of so many metal genres should make it a top-listed live album in ’24. I know it will be on mine.