NewsSeptember 3, 2021 1:31 PM ET11,688 views

'Death western' band SpiritWorld sign with Century Media, debut new video

Official press release:

The American frontier — where lost highways stretch into darkness and undisturbed deserts speak a language as ominous as it is otherworldly. This is the tableau of SpiritWorld.

Self-described as "death western," SpiritWorld is also the aural vision quest of Stu Folsom, a Las Vegas native who has taken the intensity of that blasted desert heat and given it voice on Pagan Rhythms, the band's debut for its new label home, Century Media.

To celebrate the new partnership, SpiritWorld have released a brand new video for the song "Comancheria," which perfectly underlines the artistic statement of Folsom's music. Watch it here:


It was that purity of Folsom's vision that immediately won SpiritWorld international acclaim on the limited 2020 self-release of Pagan Rhythms via Safe Inside Records. 

Daniel Carter, influential BBC 1 DJ and curator of The Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter, gave the record almost immediate attention. Even the likes of Exodus/Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and former Sepultura/current Soulfly leader Max Cavalera raved about the album on social media.

Not surprisingly, SpiritWorld were quick to gain the attention of Century Media, who saw Folsom's vision and inked the band.

Says Century Media Vice President of A&R, Mike Gitter, "SpiritWorld is sonic world-building in the boldest way. It's a vision of the American West as somewhere south of heaven that's equal parts Slayer, Louis Lamour, and Sam Peckinpah — full of dust, dirt and blood."

Conceived entirely by Folsom and produced by Sam Pura (The Story So Far, Self Defense Family), songs that stand out include "Comancheria" or the blast-beat propelled "Unholy Passages," courtesy of drummer Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta/Trash Talk), who plays on half the album, with ex-Apiary skinsman Adam Elliot playing on the other.

SpiritWorld will begin their long ride this fall, playing one of their inaugural performances for Pagan Rhythms at Decibel Magazine's Metal & Beer Fest in Los Angeles on December 10 and 11.

"It's about trying to write killer songs and craft a classic record," says Folsom, whose love for the likes of George Jones or the legendary L.A. punk band X runs as deep as his metallic roots. "With Pagan Rhythms, I set out to distill my love of thrash, old school death metal, and hardcore into something new that would hit like a tomahawk right in the face. When I first started telling people about this idea, I had to merge Western imagery, horror fiction, and heavy metal into an all-out sonic assault. It seemed ridiculous, but I truly believe that if you make great records people are a lot more willing to embrace your weirdness and come along for the ride."

Pagan Rhythms will be re-released on November 5 via Century Media Records and is now available physically for the first time outside of North America.

The album is up for streaming on your platform of choice and available in the following formats for pre-order: Limited Edition 180g black LP + Art Print (with alternative cover artwork; this format is only available in the first pressing); Limited Edition apple red LP + Art Print (with alternative cover artwork; this format is only available in the first pressing and is expected to be shipped in Spring 2022); limited CD Digipak; digital album.

23 comments

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anonymous 9/3/2021 12:18:18 PM

dudes into Rune tattoos and runescape are pumped

anonymous 9/3/2021 12:38:04 PM

Is this the poop from the turnstile show??

anonymous 9/3/2021 12:55:21 PM

This smokes!!!

anonymous 9/3/2021 4:17:14 PM

Nergal rip off

anonymous 9/3/2021 4:39:43 PM

I thought it was going to be a queer sound but it's pretty good actually

anonymous 9/3/2021 5:21:27 PM

Thought this was some bitch music to play when riding with the wife to couples therapy but turned out to be pretty decent.

anonymous 9/3/2021 5:23:55 PM

What constitutes this as Death Western

anonymous 9/3/2021 5:27:47 PM

reading it sounds like shit, listening tho this slaps

anonymous 9/3/2021 6:25:33 PM

Worst marketing ever They made a video with toy soldiers and now they are western death metal ? The f*ck?

anonymous 9/3/2021 6:35:25 PM

Where's the western and the death parts of this death western band?

anonymous 9/3/2021 7:18:36 PM

A7x called they want their swag back

anonymous 9/3/2021 8:43:35 PM

f*ck off, Biden voters.

anonymous 9/3/2021 10:09:36 PM

I'd rather rip my d!ck off and shove it up my ass than listen to this awful music, my goodness...

anonymous 9/4/2021 2:57:55 AM

No care ever

anonymous 9/4/2021 3:21:06 AM

Great record

anonymous 9/4/2021 3:55:05 AM

yep, great record indeed. if you only get one record a year, get this! and yes, stop complaining, whining, bitching whatever - be a man and create something instead of talking useless nonsense on the web u loser.

anonymous 9/4/2021 4:18:13 AM

people that eat roadkill and are intimate with their relatives are stoked

anonymous 9/4/2021 4:44:14 AM

Whatever "death western" is, I think Wayfarer beat them to that location.

anonymous 9/4/2021 8:15:46 AM

Yeah, not sure what "Death Western" is but this honestly kicks ass.

anonymous 9/4/2021 9:08:14 AM

One too many heavy bands with the word Spirit in their names releasing albums this year.

anonymous 9/6/2021 6:33:04 AM

Wayfarer is "death western"; this is not.

anonymous 9/6/2021 10:13:31 AM

Looks like Primitive Man artwork. Same artist as Scorn?

anonymous 9/7/2021 3:07:09 PM

Stock metal riffs are held on a pedestal here




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