Prepare to descend into the depths of cinematic doom this Halloween as one-man band Liminal Spirit unveils the chilling closing track “A Better Place” from the forthcoming concept album “Unwell,” releasing October 31st.
Rooted in the doom genre but elevated by a grandiose, cinematic sound, Liminal Spirit is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Jerry Hauppa, also known for his work in the band Deorbit. The project was born from a desire to conjure the sonic equivalent of a séance, music that evokes spiritual movement between planes, wrapped in heavy, epic, and emotionally immersive compositions.
The new album “Unwell” is a harrowing five-track journey (with three of the tracks composed using microtonal guitars) that follows Phillip, an elderly dementia patient haunted by the ghosts of two children who accuse him of murder. As Phillip’s memory deteriorates, the music grows increasingly distorted, culminating in the final track “A Better Place”, where he is judged in purgatory and ultimately cast into hell. The song’s oppressive atmosphere and chromatic descent mirror Phillip’s spiritual fall, delivering a visceral listening experience that is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
“My goal with this record is to explore ideas that represent some of my greatest fears. Having worked in nursing homes, I’ve seen firsthand how miserable they can be. The loss of faculties and fear of spiritual judgment are themes that haunt me, and now, they haunt this album,” says Hauppa.
Each track on “Unwell” is a chapter in Phillip’s tragic story. “Admittance” opens with jazz-inspired tones and a comforting nod to Jim Reeves’ “Welcome to My World.” “Unwell” introduces microtonal guitars to reflect Phillip’s fractured mind. “Visiting Day” brings sinister spirits and a chilling ultimatum. “EOLC” delivers violent retribution, and record closer “A Better Place” seals Phillip’s fate in a hellish descent.
While Liminal Spirit has yet to perform live, the artist is open to the idea. For now, the music stands alone, an immersive, conceptual experience that invites listeners to step into Phillip’s shoes and confront the unknown.
For those brave enough to enter Phillip’s world, “A Better Place” offers a haunting glimpse into the abyss and can be heard via its premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE.
For fans of Skepticism, Jesu, Confessor, Cynic, and Anata, “Unwell” will be available on all major streaming platforms on October 31st, 2025.
EP pre-save – https://distrokid.com/
EP pre-order – https://liminalspirit.
Title-Track Stream – https://youtu.be/IeiBBqAmu9o
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Track Listing:
1. Admittance (5:27)
2. Unwell (6:52) (single)
3. Visiting Day (8:01)
4. EOLC (8:26)
5. A Better Place (5:42) (single)
EP Credits:
All songs written, performed, produced, and mixed by Jerry Hauppa.
Mastered by Jeff Wojtysiak at Spiral Sound Mastering
Lineup:
Jerry Hauppa – Guitar, microtonal guitar, bass, violin, synth, vocoder, drum programming
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Liminal Spirit is the solo endeavor of Jerry Hauppa, known for his work in Deorbit and the Milwaukee metal scene. The project fuses doom metal with cinematic storytelling, drawing influence from Skepticism, Anata, My Bloody Valentine, Jesu, and Confessor—though Hauppa insists Liminal Spirit sounds like none of them. With roots in old-school death metal and a growing interest in psychedelic electronic music, Liminal Spirit continues to push sonic boundaries.
“The title track from this latest concept EP – being released on Halloween – from Milwaukee-based multi-instrumentalist Jerry Hauppa is an appropriately unsettling exploration of themes such as memory, guilt and spiritual reckoning delivered via a fusion of progressive doom metal with avant-garde narrative techniques, crafting what the composer and musician describes as “seance music”, a genre-defying sonic ritual meant to stir movement between spiritual realms:” – THE ÜBER RÖCK SINGLES CLUB DAILY PICK – LIMINAL SPIRIT (Oct 11, 2025)
“Unwell is a fearless act of musical necromancy. It’s unsettling, artful, and deeply personal—doom metal with a philosopher’s pen and a filmmaker’s eye. Fans of Jesu, Skepticism, and Cynic will find much to admire here, but Liminal Spirit ultimately exists in its own spectral orbit.” – See Rock Live Magazine (Unwell – 2025)
“It’s dense. It’s dark. It demands your full attention. But give it that, and you’ll walk away changed—or at least slightly disturbed. Fans of Skepticism, Kayo Dot, or anyone who enjoys having their psyche gently disassembled: this one’s for you.”- Metalpapyjeff
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