Spectral Twist – Spectral Staircase (Album Review)

Spectral Twist is a side-project from the creators behind the studio-based punk rock outfit Dead Skin Project that “blends horror, humor, and raw rebellion into every riff.” The group is releasing a 14-track album, entitled ‘Spectral Staircase,’ that explores the band’s quirky, fun side while also raising social awareness.

Right off the bat, the first track, “Damaged Control,” is filled with a great punk rock vibe. The song demands your attention from the get-go. The instrumentals are filled with raw energy, but I couldn’t help but notice that AI was used for the vocals. The band had added a disclaimer that they used AI for the vocals, claiming that they really couldn’t sing. Despite that, the instrumentals sounded great and were an integral part of pulling the song together.

The next track, “Neon Weather,” felt like it was from another band altogether. It gave off a pop-rock feel right away. The keys and guitar were highly melodic and contagious. I immediately felt drawn to the sounds. The AI-generated vocals sounded like a completely different persona, and the difference stood out to me. I’m guessing the band did this for some variety, which I didn’t mind that much. Usually, on an album, using alternating vocals is a regular occurrence, and since the band made that choice here, listeners will simply have to accept it. This particular track proved to be a favorite.

“Last Night Ever” turned out to be a song about drinking. Trumpets and synths sound out. This track felt more in the area of AI-generated content. I sensed very little organic instrumentation here. Lyrically, this seemed to be a fun-loving song about a night spent in reckless abandon.

Following is “What Hit Me Last Night,” which felt like a great alternative rock track with a happening vibe. I was reminded of bands like Sugercult and Dashboard Confessional. The melody and tune really carried. Especially when the chorus hits with combined vocals belting out “Till maybe Friday night” everything really came together for an energetic atmosphere.

Toward “Shadow of A Doubt,” trumpet synths sound out. As keys underline the track, and once the vocals come in, I was reminded of a lullaby. The soft tones and pleasant melody really spoke to me. I felt myself relaxing to the soothing vibes. The dreamy sounds on this track recalled in my mind the band Owl City.

Full-throttle guitars introduce the start of “Authenticity Check.” The punk rock energy on this track made it very exciting. The jaunty tunes and invigorating appeal made me want to get up and start dancing. On this track, apparently, “the punk police” is conducting what appears to be authenticity checks as their service to society. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and great energy.

The happening vibes coming from “Frantic” reminded me of the band Neon Trees. This was a fast-paced song with shooting and oscillating synths. I enjoyed the lyrics of this song and the addicting pop melody. The infectious energy of this track felt indicative of the band’s songwriting abilities.

“Ghost Suspect” uses chiptune in the execution of the intro. Next, some guitars and drums enter the sounds. This was another fun-loving song, filled with spooks and things cloaked in mystery. Greatly enjoyed this as well.

The title-track “Spectral Staircase” incorporates synths and an eerie vibe. It also had a spooky atmosphere that I thought delivered the horror themes of this album really well. I thought the vocals and music complemented each other to give the maximum effect of what must’ve been the band’s intent, which was to let audience members have some fun while introducing some horror elements.

A wall of guitars jumpstarts “Down in the Bunker.” The enthused punk rock vibes vibrate with feeling. Pulsating with some great energy, the demanding sounds sounded like an earworm to my ears. The demented beats and rhythms felt very contagious.

Guitar riffs sound out at the start of “Shadow of the Eyes.” This song is about a mysterious girl who has taken the protagonist’s world by storm. Everything about this girl spells out trouble, but the protagonist just can’t help himself. The song is a classic one that describes a love gone awry. Lyrically, the song hit all the right marks.  The music sounded great as well.

The energy coming from the instrumentals on “Suitcase Smile” proved to be compelling. The keys and synths work together to give a happening vibe. The enthusiasm coming from the band here is infectious.

The great energy continues with “Staring at the Walls,” where some guitarwork and some trumpets give off a great atmosphere. The organic instruments here added to the pulsating music. Once the vocals enter, the music really comes together for a fantastic vibe.

Finally, we have “Be Yourself,” an anthem that has a great energy. Musically, the beats and rhythm aligned themselves in the punk/pop territories.

Spectral Twist unapologetically makes addictive music in the powerpop, punk rock vein. If you’re looking for an album that has ghosts, ghouls, and a fun night out of town, Spectral Staircase has this in spades. ‘Spectral Staircase’ was a lot of fun to listen to. The band embraces the punk and pop rock genres without taking themselves too seriously. This tongue-in-cheek attitude is on full display in songs like “Authenticity Check” and “Spectral Staircase,” which points to the band’s humorous side.

The group does a good job lyrically and musically. All the right ingredients are here. If they could just hire a human vocalist, I think this would be even better. This has the recipe for success. Adding more organic elements could help the group flesh out their sound more.

SCORE/Excellent: This has all the makings of a successful album. The only thing holding it back is the AI-generated and synthetic elements. If the band can replace those with organic instrumentation or natural vocals, I think this would make the project even more vastly improved. I look forward to seeing the band further explore this in their sound and can’t wait to see how they evolve in their future endeavors!

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