Still Remains – Spirit Breaker
Still Remains – Spirit Breaker
Arson Theory
Release date: 12/06/26
Words by: Jon Deaux
7/10
Still Remains have released an EP that deals with trauma, addiction, and being left by their parents, which actually sounds like they should be in rehab, not releasing music.
Still Remains have made you wait thirteen years for their music to return. Your pet dog died. Your receding hairline decided to take an early retirement. The same fans who used to thrash to the music of Of Love and Lunacy at Roadrage Tour 2005 now probably own mortgages and back pains, and some may even have grown kids that they might one day end up disappointing in ways that, according to track three of Spirit Breaker, Still Remains had already written the lyrics for. Life is indeed a flat circle, and this band sat right at the center of it for a decade, completely marinating in their unresolved issues and waiting for the perfect moment to share their pain with the world. The perfect moment has arrived, and here is the fruit of their labors.
Let us start with some background information for the unaware audience. Grand Rapids metalcore band, once the proud members of Roadrunner Records, whose 2005 debut and follow-up album in 2007 were both quite impressive, managed to emerge from a long break of thirteen years with five new tracks, all dedicated to themes such as generational trauma, personal disintegration, and the misery that goes hand-in-hand with being stuck inside one’s mind with no way out. Frontman T.J. Miller claims that this is their most personal and emotional record so far. While this statement is meant to serve as marketing material, it has, irritatingly, proven to be true.
Before delving into the record itself, it should be mentioned that Ceasing to Breathe, the fan-funded reemergence record from 2013, exists, and it definitely did what most reunions strive to do – reminded everyone why they loved this band, albeit in subtle fashion. In other words, this record was more than good, but Spirit Breaker stands at an entirely different level altogether; the thirteen years that have passed since the last record are not dead air but rather the entire subject matter.
‘The Wound and the Weapon,’ opening the EP, features Guy Kozowyk of The Red Chord, which could probably be described as bringing a notarized character witness that bit someone in a comeback hearing. The combination of the featured aggression of the guest artist and Miller’s emotional singing of self-loathing creates a tangible tension that few comeback songs usually have to offer. As a result, we receive lyrics filled with metaphorical cracks that are all too familiar to those who have waited thirteen years: “I am the wound, I am the weapon” is not something the Booker Prize would consider, but when sung with that amount of sincerity in the chorus, it definitely hits home. And Dave Prindle’s video is proof that things have been going downhill for these guys for quite a long while now.
What should be noted is how well production suits the lyrics without taking over them in any possible way. The producer for this record, Lee Albrecht, who made a name for himself through such records as Hollow Front and Gore, took perhaps the best decision available to him – he allowed Still Remains to sound exactly as Still Remains. It is extremely tempting to change certain things to make the band more appealing; nevertheless, there was no polishing of rough edges, and the keyboard, as always, occupied the same European-Gothic corner and performed the same particular atmosphere-making task that has distinguished Still Remains from other metalcore artists. Furthermore, there was no overproduction whatsoever – in 2026, it was a bold move.
‘Spirit Breaker’ serves as another song that allows for an understanding of why the EP is called that way and also reveals the central theme of this work. The verses create an almost confrontational feeling of emptiness before transitioning to an almost redeeming chorus. “My head’s a mess / My body is shaking / Nothing like your spirit breaking” – not the lyrics to impress the academic circles with, still, a song with sincere meaning and, therefore, a successful one. The call-and-response technique in the second half is old, and it was extensively used in 2007, but it works well here. The arrangement, production, and vocal performance save the day, and sometimes, a chorus just needs to mean something. This one did that, and you resent it, and then play it again.
It is time to discuss what makes this record worth remembering. Track four, ‘Erase You,’ has a story behind it – it talks about the wounds that cannot heal because of the people who created them. It tells about a family member struggling with addiction whose absence brings you a sense of relief, but also a grave that awaits forgiveness that he or she probably never deserved. Such lines as “deceptive crawling addict beggar / Your absence is a relief” and “eager for disjunction – our communion was my ulcer” reveal the author’s inner struggle – he has waited long enough to find words for the things that used to choke him, and now, he has finally found them. The structure of the song also helps in creating the effect – the first half starts awkward and broken, but eventually turns cold and definite in the second half. Finally, there is a phrase, “Your ashes will never hear me speak”; it closes the record by locking the door, closing the chapter, and walking away with no intention to look back. It is the sort of uncomfortable lyrics that are based on true things and, therefore, find an exact nerve to touch in every one of us who has a family member similar to the one in question – many of you probably have one, and it is about to do the job. You have been warned.
Now, ‘Eclipse.’ This is where an honest conversation takes place. This is the identity dissolution track, the one that tells about the face you wear so that the world will accept you. The topic has been done to death in this genre for quite some time now, and Still Remains are not really adding anything fresh to the pile with their lyrics, “I’m just the echo of what I could be / A ghost of someone the world wants to see,” but still, the track is decent and performs its job. Every EP needs at least one song of this kind. This record has fulfilled its purpose and moved on.
‘Waste of Breath’ closes the record and reveals the reason why Still Remains were superior to most bands at their peak. European metal influences that brought more atmospheric qualities to the music of Still Remains’ 2005 debut – they are back here, creating the right ambience for the track. The forsaken theme that has been building up throughout the record shows here its results and adds weight to the lyrics. Blood betrayal, forgiveness that ran dry – all of that contributes to the final minute of this record that gains all its significance through the use of restraint and not excessive escalation; this one is less seen among metal records, and those that employ this technique deserve praise. It is the one track that might make one pull over somewhere and sit in the parking lot for ten minutes; that is the only metric that has ever mattered in this genre.
Spirit Breaker proves to be a decent record despite some flaws. Five songs, twenty minutes of music – four tracks did what they intended, and one did its job. Considering how few bands succeed in achieving this, the first recording, after a thirteen-year hiatus, is truly notable. What this record demonstrates is how a band should return – they said their words and shared their thoughts, did not make a radio-friendly compromise, put their ugliest material first, and made all the right decisions along the way.
Tracklist
1 The Wound and the Weapon
2 Spirit Breaker
3 Erase You
4 Eclipse
5 Waste of Breath
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/stillremainsofficial/
https://stillremainsmerch.com/
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Jon Deaux and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
