Releasedate: 04-09-2026
Label: Sound Of Liberation Records

The American quartet Spirit Mother switched the record label after two releases, and Thistle, the third album, announced as part of Sound Of Liberation Records. This release opened the fall melancholy season.

For a work picked up expecting a gritty, fuzz-laden stoner rock template, Thistle delivers something far more nuanced. The album functions as a scattered sonic journal with 13 tracks, jumping between moods. “Dog Machine” keeps things just psychedelic enough to nod to the band’s roots, while “Narrows” strips things back into a quiet, violin-led folk territory. There are clever narrative shifts, too; “Locomotive Breath” stands out with its distinct, dichotomous echoed storytelling, and the all-instrumental, flute-driven “Ephemeral” provides a breathing room of pure atmosphere.

The record peaks when it embraces its best influences. “Good Faith” is beautifully viscous, dragging the listener through a thick, slow-burning groove. Meanwhile, the standout “Stranger, You Are” perfectly captures that elusive 1970s analog songwriting mixed with 1990s disillusionment. Here, the band channels a vintage Radiohead vulnerability combined with a subtle, almost invisible touch of IAMX’s theatrical anxiety. The solo on “Odetta” gets a brief, nostalgic flash of true stoner guitar work. Altogether, the title track “Thistle” brings a sense of driving awakening to the record.

In the end, Thistle places Spirit Mother directly in modern rock’s grey zone, sounding like an artist that has been granted an official license for melancholy. With an extensive tracklist, the album feels noticeably overlong and overextended. By trading their heavier rock edge for a more intellectual, mid-tempo indie aesthetic, Spirit Mother has created a deeply atmospheric piece of work—even if it requires patience to wade through the gaze.

Line up:

• Armand Lance – Vocals, Guitar
• SJ – Violin, Vocals
• Mia Rose – Violin, Vocals
• Michael Fenris – Bass

Links:

Official

Bandcamp
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