The Devil Makes Three return with Spirits, an album that feels both haunted and defiant, shaped by personal loss and broader struggles. Seven years after Chains Are Broken, Pete Bernhard, Cooper McBean, and new bassist MorganEve Swain deliver a raw, introspective collection that channels grief, addiction, and resilience through the band’s signature mix of folk, blues, and Appalachian grit.
Loss looms large on Spirits, with Bernhard reflecting on the passing of his mother, brother, and childhood friend. The title track is an aching meditation on grief, its refrain shifting between spectral visitations and the numbing effects of alcohol. Meanwhile, “Ghosts Are Weak” captures the cyclical nature of addiction, highlighting the way sorrow and substance abuse feed into each other.
The album also takes aim at economic disparity, a theme The Devil Makes Three have long explored. “Hard Times” is a biting critique of trickle-down economics, while “Half as High” wryly laments the increasing cost of escape, whether through drugs, alcohol, or simple survival. These songs tap into a blue-collar frustration that feels all too relevant today.
Yet, Spirits isn’t just a dirge. Tracks like “Lights on Me” and “The Gift” offer moments of defiance and renewal, drawing on mythology and personal conviction to remind listeners that survival is possible, even in the face of overwhelming hardship. The band’s stripped-down instrumentation and driving rhythms lend these songs a raw energy that makes their messages hit even harder.
With Spirits, The Devil Makes Three reaffirm their place as one of roots music’s most compelling storytellers. The album is dark, honest, and unflinching, yet within its tales of loss and struggle lies a glimmer of hope—the simple, stubborn act of holding on. – Jason Felton