Sydney’s Spirit Valley exist within some strange, twisted limbo of the Australian music scene. To anyone who’s encountered them, they are undeniably, earth-shatteringly fantastic. There’s a Faster Louder review that introduces them as “Best. Band. Ever” and some live photos, but thats about it. Granted the “Death” EP is their first official release, and with distribution from the excellent Dream Damage it’s evident that things are about to change.
Made up of duo of Dave ‘Spirit’ Tomlinson and Chris ‘Valley’ Stabback, Spirit Valley provide the doomshine delivery of swelling guitars and huge drums. Although ‘Doomshine’ sounds like one of those fucking stupid genre names once you actually listen to Spirit Valley, it’s more than apparent that the phrase really does inhabit the sound. From the gradual growl and minimal strums to the slamming snares and reverb dense, furious strikes of the guitars on “Bring Out The Barrel”, each track blossoms up from its dark grinding roots into expansive aching choruses.
My only initial qualm when hearing the EP was coming to terms with the sheer ferocity and volume of Dave Tomlinson’s vocals. It was only when I saw them live that everything clicked into place. Whether he’s crooning like a drunken pirate doing karaoke on the harpsichord opening “Sazerac”, or howling from the bottom of his lungs on Doomshine Blues, the rich roaring chants of Tomlinson are what makes Spirit Valley. And then there’s the title track. This song is what the EP is really all about, what Spirit Valley are about, and what a really fucking good song is about. “Death” is one of those freakily fantastic songs which immediately catapults the listener into a spine-shaking , soul-destroying riff and coupled the building kicks, hisses and howls, it’s a perfect song by anyone’s standards. This is what Spirit Valley do best, where percussion and guitar come together so seamlessly, and with such ease that you immediately lose yourself.
The Fat Angel Sings 