Murder By Death have never been a band to stay in a rut. For more than two decades now, the band has flirted with punk rock, indie folk and dark southern gothic sounds. So it should not come as a surprise that on Spell/Bound, their latest record, they are expanding their sound yet again. This time in one of their biggest sonic stretches yet, creating a massively expansive, moody soundscape with hallow drums, deep cellos and swirling guitars throughout. The gamble pays off impressively creating a hauntingly beautiful record making for one of their strongest albums since 2012’s Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon.
Spell/Bound, their ninth, was self-funded via Kickstarter just like their 2020 album. Across nine tracks, they create a deeply moving soundtrack evoking loss and uncertainty and the occasional glimpses of optimism hidden here and there. Front man Adam Turla has referred to their albums as a series of novels – each one different but still tethered to a shared core.
Spell/Bound is no different. Just as he described 2018’s The Other Shore, as “a Western space opera,” this one sounds like a Southern Gothic Desert Country record. The opening song, “Get Up,” is one of the most accessible tunes here and gently leads you into the record, which grows increasingly more experimental with each song, but is well worth the ride. “All Go,” for example, sounds like an old Hank Williams tune, but is given even more charm thanks to Tula’s uniquely soothing vocals, that coat everything lyric he sings with warmth.
The ninth and final track, the oddly appropriate “Strange Song,” is simply beautiful. The band has a way of writing slow tempo songs that are deeply affecting without coming off as musically plodding or contrived. The album may be a step into another direction, but it is not only sure to satisfy longtime fans of the band but also bring more folks into the tent.
