The Ghost of Us - Intent in Discord (review)
Redemption and metalcore breakdowns loom large in this grand debut.
Score: 7/10
Genre: Metalcore, Djent, Emo
There are many expected sounds within The Ghost of Us’s periphery — metalcore breakdowns, djent riffage, throat-shredding growls and boyish emo singing — but it’s the immersive soul-searching that steals the show. After three years of dazzling live audiences and snowballing anticipation for a full-length album, the band makes it worth the wait.
Whether the songs just get the wheels turning (the ominous and angelic “Intro” and the mournful Shawshank Redemption-sampling “Road To Redemption”) or hit the ground running (the bloody “Murder in Cabrini” and the uplifting reverence of “Momentum”), they all lead to redemption, spiritual or otherwise. “Vesper” calls to action against our darkening world and minds amid its purposeful breakdowns and surging arpeggios. The majestic “Insterstellar” has lost souls falling into the arms of something bigger than themselves. The dramatic closer “So Bourbon Wasteland” (pronounced “suburban wasteland”) pushes away alcohol to reclaim autonomy.
The great production does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s dense without sounding overcrowded. The light and dark elements are balanced to perfection. The small touches added throughout make a big impact, such as death bells, spoken-word passages, and ethereal choral synths. With intent and care, this well-established metalcore sound gets a new breath of life.
The band has a gift for wordplay. “Discord” can mean dissonance (as in their heavy sound) and also conflict(as in their redemptive message), but right now, there’s a lot that sounds harmonious with this album.
Score: 7/10
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