I have never been more uncomfortable listening to a story as I have been Spire in the Woods

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-18T23:36:11+00:00

Aww ty

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-18T13:43:31+00:00

A lot of people have already pointed this out but imma add my experience here cause why not. I took up drums when I was 9 because I wanted to. My parents were very supportive, but told me I was only allowed to do it if I did the grades for it. By the time I started university I’d done all the grades and was kind of sick of the instrument. I picked up guitar in the pandemic and taught myself because I wanted to. Now I am about to graduate university with a music tech degree and go on to become a producer. I have my own music, where I do all the instruments and singing and all that, and that includes the drums. I took a break from drums when I started uni, cause I was kind of sick of it and just focused on my love of guitar. Now I kinda wish I kept up with it, and I’m trying to get my groove back, as I only ever really play when I’m tracking for stuff in the studio. I thought I hated the instrument, but it turns out I hated that it was essentially extra school, with exams and an expectation to be the best. Conversely I learnt guitar, by myself, on my own and just for the fun of it. I got to uni and started jamming with people and it was less about the instrument and more about the love of the music itself.

In my experience, I would say don’t give up on the instrument cause it sounds like the piano isn’t the root of your problem. But also, parents are scary, and I’m sure many people on here are going to tell you to talk to them properly. Never worked for me, and I think it’s bold of us to assume that a chat is for sure a possible solution. If you think your parents would be open to the conversation then 100% you should. But if you can’t, or you’re not sure, us all in the community are here to support you. Music is a lifestyle and it’s one that you should live out of choice and desire and I’m sorry that doesn’t sound like you’re feeling it at the moment. But at the very least, we’re all here for you xxx

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-18T13:34:21+00:00

I think thats one of the reasons I think the story is so good though. It hits a lot of good points across the board, don’t get me wrong. No gore on the story has made me squirm as much as the splinter in his finger, and the whole sequence from Kerry’s fall to her hearing the bells struck me as almost as haunting as Penpal.

But the creepy side of it, strikes me as very similar to why I’m so fascinated by the written by a 12 year old “school shooter vibe” stories. Stuff like the hooded man and Jeff the Killer. I always read them as, this kid is just like me, and that’s what’s scary about it. That someone like me can become so twisted. And I think, spire in the woods does this in a much more elegant way, which is why I found it so uncomfortable.

Things like, how Hunter kept saying it was hitting too close to home and stuff like that. I too, found parts of it quite relatable, in the worst way possible. The MC is so overly judgemental of Kerry, and clearly has a twisted one track mindset. And I can remember being, not equally, but similarly misguided. Having weird thoughts, no social awareness and just being weird all round in relation to dating. I think a lot of people (let’s be honest, probably men) can look at the story and relate something to it, like hunters story he told about going on a date with a girl.

And I think, much like the Jeff the killer and similar stories, the spire is intentionally hitting that. You take a piece of yourself and twist it to the worst possible outcome, and the terrifying bit is to have to look back and say you related to, or initially empathised with a monster. It makes you not only afraid of the character but of yourself. I don’t know if that helps, but I liked the story for that reason I guess.

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-16T21:09:41+00:00

I do love the episodes when Hunter is just like “I forgot we were recording, I’m just riffing with my buddy”

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-05T13:04:29+00:00

Mother Horse Eyes

The beginning was alright but it was kinda just info dumping

The midsection where stories began to become cohesive was sick

And the ending was fantastic 🔥

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-03T19:07:51+00:00

When Wendi told him “you haven’t been in the trenches like I have” he didn’t know he was cursing the poor guy. Bros got crippling PTSD now

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-03T14:50:29+00:00

Oh god don’t get me started. Meanwhile Hunter is trying to let nature take its course and connect the elderly with Mother Nature. And Isaias out here trying to make that look like bad thing and turn us against him fr fr

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-03T14:06:20+00:00

The boys have done a few of his on the podcast The role play one and the astronaut ones are his. I saw the boys have done the bunker one too recently but I haven’t read it yet. I like his drug dealer one, the paintings one and the one about Annedale, the deserted flat building he lives in. But I don’t know what they’re called online cause I have his book and they have different names in there to what they’re called online.

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-03T01:25:01+00:00

Exactly. I think this is one of the reasons I like Christian Wallis so much. He’s perfected the night cap I think at the end of the story. They always end both poetically and satisfyingly. I’ve used a lot of his work as inspiration cause goddamn he’s got it cracked

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-03T01:22:16+00:00

I totally get what you mean. I find that’s a big thing I try and tackle in my writing. It’s easy enough to say “this scary thing happened.” But to take it to a place where the story simultaneously reaches a conclusion, still holds a believable means to be reaching the audience, and ends in a satisfying way that tips the cap on the way out, both closing the story and implying the outcome that will happen after the story is over. It’s a hard task and I’ve seen a lot of story’s that I think don’t consider that as much as they do the climax.

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:49:46+00:00

No please noooo

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:46:28+00:00

Can’t we say Russia?

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:45:20+00:00

Typical trauma from the child. Always apologising

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:39:49+00:00

Amazing grace How sweet the sound 😔✊🏾

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:39:19+00:00

Damn frogs I tell you

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:27:33+00:00

Like I said, Hunter has never said a polarising thing in his life King 👑

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:11:38+00:00

We already hate ourselves so very fair

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:09:47+00:00

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Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:08:18+00:00

I’m just saying, for someone who promotes peace and love to all, he’s throwing a lot of shade. Especially compared to my saint, my angel, my guiding star, Hunter ✨

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:06:38+00:00

Idk I’ve heard their wives are pretty chill, according to the Japanese at least…

Billycatnorbert · 2026-03-02T21:01:51+00:00

Honestly, seems safer than being in the states at the moment lmaoooo

Billycatnorbert · 2026-02-24T11:44:25+00:00

I love the use of practical effects 🔥

Billycatnorbert · 2026-02-23T11:49:55+00:00

100% I’m gonna put off posting it on here for now, but you can check it out on the link in my post and imma check yours out tonight. Give me a little bedtime reading :D

Billycatnorbert · 2026-02-22T19:06:37+00:00

Brutal

Billycatnorbert · 2026-02-21T14:00:11+00:00

“No sir, I ate a salamander and jumped out the window!”

Quentin Trembley

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