June 2, 2025 by A.S. Van Dorston

High Desert Queen, Mean Mistreater and Spirit Adrift put on THE Texas metal event of the year at Empire Control Room.

With apologies to the Hell’s Heroes heavy metal festival in Houston, they had a great run for three years, but I didn’t make it this year, which meant I was starved for metal. It’s been too long since Spirit Adrift played their Austin home base, over three years.

But first was Austin’s hardest working heavy psych/desert rock band, High Desert Queen, who have been relentlessly gigging and touring Europe for several years. The band always put everything they’ve got into their shows and Saturday night was no exception. Vocalist Ryan Garney genuinely exudes positive vibes, but he can also go into gorilla mode, unleashing some convincing rage, particularly on the closer, “Solar Rain,” a standout from their second album Palm Reader (2024).

I was extra chuffed that Mean Mistreater were on the bill, as I’ve been wanting to see them since their impressive debut, Razor Wire (2024). I missed a couple opportunities cuz I don’t get out of the woods enough. They already put out a second album, Do or Die in February that is even better, and just got back from a successful European tour. I’d expected to be pinned to the wall with Janiece Gonzalez’s powerhouse vocals, but she actually had lost her voice a couple days prior, but rallied and powered through the show like the metal fucking goddess she is. The twin lead guitars of Alex Wein and Quinten Lawson are another highlight. Just like their albums are under 30 minutes each, the blistering set was short but sweet. The band has earned a well deserved rest, and apparently on to record album number three!

The anticipation for headliners Spirit Adrift has been building quite a while. After their best album yet, Ghost at the Gallows (2023), they only did a brief three date tour in Tulsa, Dallas and Little Rock, then one last date at Metal Injection at Anaheim, and that was it. A European tour was canceled due to personal reasons, though fans could get plenty of Nate Garrett through his channel Big Riff Energy, as well as a live album and his one-man side project Neon Nightmare.

There’s a new second guitarist in the lineup who’s name I didn’t catch, so I’ll add it as soon as I confirm. Funny thing is he looked remarkably similar to the image of Bob Seger on his t-shirt. Nate was shirtless and in fightin’ shape, his vocals sounding better than ever. The band also sounded heavier and more dynamic than I remember from three years ago. I would have liked more numbers for the last album, but it seems the venue forced the band to end the set early due to some other cheeseball event they double booked. I took a peek at the show in the Garage next door (Indoor Creature with TC Superstar and Blush Fantasy), and it was a dude with two dancers onstage spazzing out, and it was one of the worst things I’ve seen and heard this decade. I’m at least grateful that the Spirit Adrift & friends show drew a slightly bigger crowd.

Album number six is nearly finished and hopefully will be out this year, and the band heads to the UK and Europe in August. It makes sense that they’re saving their metal juju for overseas, as metal bands are treated with far more respect by much larger audiences there.