SPIRITWORLD’s Helldorado Blazes a New Trail of Thrash, Hardcore, and Western Horror

SpiritWorld has never been a band to follow the beaten path. With Helldorado, their third full-length release, the Las Vegas outfit continues to carve their own niche in the metal and hardcore world—one where country-western mythology collides headfirst with unrelenting thrash and hardcore energy. Frontman Stu Folsom and company deliver another high-caliber salvo of frontier fury, proving that Helldorado is not just a continuation of their journey but an escalation into something even more chaotic, cinematic, and downright punishing.

“If Deathwestern was a shotgun blast to the face, Helldorado is a full-scale siege.”

Following the critically lauded Deathwestern (2022), Helldorado takes the listener further into SpiritWorld’s apocalyptic Western nightmare. From the opening bars of “Abilene Grime,” the album wastes no time in setting the tone. What starts as a raucous, honky-tonk shuffle quickly ignites into a ferocious blitzkrieg of breakneck riffs and pummeling percussion. The track’s accompanying video, depicting a doomed preacher’s descent into hell, is the perfect visual companion to the song’s hellish energy.

SpiritWorld’s strength lies in their ability to marry seemingly disparate influences into a sound that is both blistering and distinctively their own. Tracks like “No Vacancy in Heaven” and “Western Stars & The Apocalypse” showcase the band’s knack for Slayer-esque thrash riffs paired with cowboy crooner aesthetics. Meanwhile, the mid-tempo stomp of “Prayer Lips” injects a dose of hardcore groove, evoking the raw power of Agnostic Front.

“SpiritWorld proves they are here to stay—and to take no prisoners along the way.”

But what sets Helldorado apart is its willingness to push boundaries. “Bird Song of Death” introduces an eerie, almost gothic atmosphere before launching into a savage sonic assault. “Oblivion” and “Cleansing” continue the band’s tradition of warlike aggression, while “Stigmata Scars” and “Annihilism” close the album with a mixture of mournful acoustics and sheer sonic devastation.

Much of Helldorado’s sonic ferocity can be attributed to the album’s production, helmed by Sam Pura at Panda Studios. The mix is sharp and punishing, allowing each instrument to cut through like a bullet through bone. Guest appearances from Sgah’gahsowáh (Black Braid), Zach Blair (Rise Against), and Frederic Leclercq (Kreator) only add to the album’s weight, each bringing their unique flair to the table.

Lyrically, Helldorado expands the SpiritWorld mythos, picking up where Godlessness—Folsom’s literary companion to the first two albums—left off. Here, we find our protagonists in the depths of hell, battling unknown horrors in a nightmarish landscape of fire and brimstone. It’s a concept album in the most visceral sense, each track a new chapter in a blood-soaked Western horror story.

If Deathwestern was a shotgun blast to the face, Helldorado is a full-scale siege. SpiritWorld has refined their vision and expanded their sound without losing an ounce of what made them so compelling in the first place. While some tracks deviate into unexpected territory, the album never loses its focus or ferocity. Whether galloping at full speed or slowing down to let the dust settle, SpiritWorld proves they are here to stay—and to take no prisoners along the way.

For fans of: Slayer, Agnostic Front, Power Trip, Ennio Morricone with a sawed-off shotgun.