Vocalist Aaron Peltz’s feelings on ghosts and the supernatural changed after joining the hard rock band On A Pale Horse in 2002.

“I never really believed in ghosts until I started playing with this band,” he says.

Peltz says strange things happen when the band practices, such as a lighter picking itself up off the table and flying through the air. Peltz doesn’t attribute these strange happenings to the band’s chemistry or their music, but to the band’s guitarist, Jerry Spargur.

“Weird things happen when we play, and it’s all Jerry’s fault,” he says.

Spargur is a Native American from the Mohawk tribe. He says he’s been a Shaman for years.

“That’s a big part of our culture,” he says.

Spargur says he’s healed people of cancer in the past, but Peltz was most impressed with Spargur’s ability to instinctively know information about people.

“You’re talking to somebody and they’re telling you things about yourself and your family that they have no way of knowing and they’re right,” Peltz says.

Peltz cites one example when Spargur told him about a dream in which he saw a pocket watch in the palm of a hand. Peltz says Spargur told him he thought the dream was about him. Peltz talked to his mother about it and learned his deceased grandfather had wanted him to have his watch, but his aunt had taken it.

“I don’t think a lot of band members understood it until it started happening,” Spargur says.

Peltz says he is used to these supernatural happenings now and is able to recognize it by Spargur’s behavior when one may occur.

“He’ll go to a show and all of a sudden, he’s got that look,” Peltz says. “Uh-oh … Jerry’s in the spirit world.”

Peltz says these experiences with the supernatural have been influential to the band in the past, especially on their last album, “Black is Not the Darkest Colour.”

Spargur says their newest album, “Amplify the Circle,” however, deals a lot more with realistic situations.

“I think a lot of people are going to be shocked,” he says. “A lot of songs are straight forward and no bullshit.”

Spargur says some of the songs are about remembering loved ones, but also about another passion of his.

“I’m a biker by heart,” he says. “Some of the lyrics are about getting on your motorcycle and taking a ride.”

Peltz says the new album, which will be released Friday at the band’s show at The House of Bricks, 525 E. Grand, Des Moines, has a lot heavier sound than their previous album, which he says was “more just straight hard rock.”

He says one reason for this change in sound may be because the band worked with a producer, Warren Riker, for the first time.

Peltz says working with Riker was a great experience because he encouraged them to try different things, especially with his vocals, to produce a heavier sound.

“As far as vocals, he was having me do some brutal stuff,” he says.

Spargur says On A Pale Horse did not experience any of the conflict that sometimes occurs when a band brings in a producer to help out. He says Riker asked for their input and did not make them do things they did not want to do.

“Having a professional come in and handle all the stuff is pretty heavy,” Spargur says. “It was an absolute blast.”