Secrets Told In Silence - I Love You. . . I’m a Ghost (review)
A narrow, but well-executed, display of hard-rock grit and goth-metal angst.
Score 7/10
Secrets Told in Silence has built a decent local reputation after about a decade of playing shows without a studio release. In four songs we hear an amalgamation of their fairly consistent sound throughout the years: conventional styles of 2000’s hard-rock, post-grunge, gothic and alternative metal. All of it strengthened by shrill aching vocals and strong lead guitar work.
The singing may draw comparisons to female singers with Tori Amos-like timbre who sing in dark bands like Lacuna Coil or Evanescence, but STIS’s Ellie Juarez is actually closer to Jack Off Jill. Her high siren voice stirs up a storm in “Alice” and turns to strangulated head voice in the title track, but no matter the register or technique, it always pleasantly stands out from the deep and dense instrumental mix.
The lyrical themes are what is to be expected for the band’s niche, like sorrowful wallowing (“this is my happy ending, this is my fairytale, this is my wish upon a star, I’m trapped in my own hell”) and romantic martyrdom (“Maybe I’m an addict, but you’re my favorite drug, the kind that slowly kills you.”) The most cliche song is actually the high point of the album with “Til Morning” being about running away and driving off until morning. With lines like “let’s leave this town like it left us, let’s forget this town like it forgot us” showing more conviction than the usual runaway song. With the child-like optimism and tonal shift at the end, the song stands as their strongest.
The guitar riffs and solos take charge immediately with the first song “Deathstar” being bookended by foreboding squeaky harmonics. Then, a solo kicks off “Til Morning,” and seems like it sings more than the vocals accompanying it. The thick morbid strums of “Alice” and the fiery guitar pickings of the title track top off a solid record.
The syncopated drums help fill up the quieter moments and always put in the right amount of energy. The bass guitar takes a backseat ride, which is typical for the styles the band works with, but there are enough fills and counter-melodies to add rhythmic flair, especially during the title track.
The overall sound isn’t anything new to anyone who grew up listening to 2000’s radio rock, but the songwriting and efficiency of every song element push this album through. The band has a strong foundation of talent and noticeable improvement, especially Juarez, who is not particularly known as a powerful live singer. She shows up with a new sense of confidence and strength. It’s a shame live music is postponed indefinitely just as this band hits their stride, but it is a band to look forward to.
Score: 7/10
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Listen to I Love You. . . I’m a Ghost here, and other streaming services.