This album starts out with "Ashes", and I have to say this is certainly the campy start that I wanted to hear. But you really have to ask yourself listening to this, has Ghost gotten too cheesy? Because I don't think so, but it's cutting it dangerously close. Hell, this is two notes away from being a Nightwish track. Thankfully, enough of this intro is exciting and interesting. Now, say what you will about Ghost's sound. Whether you think it's gotten too watered down or too cheesy, "Rats" is a GREAT single. This track is anthemic and gigantic, but it's also just heavy enough to please any number of Ghost's original fanbase. It's grotesque, devilish, but we also have to look at just how catchy this one is. Which, like I said, is going to bug some people. But "Rats" absolutely soars, it's chorus is triumphant as hell, and really makes this one stick with you. It's very cleanly produced, and has some really great guitar solos too. But it's also apparent that Ghost are really going for a sort of throwback sound with these solos. I mean, come on, some of these sound like they were ripped right out of 1986. But if comes off as a really solid alternative to the Metal scene right now, which is where Ghost should be sounding. Now, if you haven't realized by now, it's more than just the guitars. Everything about this album just sounds like a massive throwback. "Faith" on the other hand is much more sluggish and chugging, and not nearly as catchy. And honestly, not nearly as likable. Between way too much focus on a blistering guitar solo and too little on making this atmosphere believable, this is the definition of where Ghost shouldn't be right now. Like, I do think some of the synths on the chorus come off nicely. But as far as a new direction goes from these modern legends go, this is not it. The pieces are all right here, they're just impossible to put together. And let me tell you, a stripped down, Piano ballad is not what I wanted to hear either. But alas, that's what we get with "See The Light". Sure, the vocals are just as anthemic as you would expect from a Ghost track, and this is still grandiose and very immense. It has the epic feeling you would expect from Ghost, but outside of that this track seems shallow. These guitar solos sound like they've been tossed in or recorded for another track altogether. It's also interesting to point out that Ghost are obviously getting more personal. But this is just not what I want to hear from them. I'll give Ghost this however, these synths that pop in are a very nice touch and something I wouldn't mind hearing much more of.
Now, "Miasma" may just be the cheesiest track here by far. But I absolutely can't get enough of how campy and awesome this is. This doesn't sound like a Ghost interlude, this sounds like a forgotten John Carpenter classic. The guitars are soaring, and there's seemingly endless amounts of those synths that I loved so much on that last one. Now, this an over 5-minute instrumental, so Ghost fans are going to be on the fence with this one. But I think this is a fantastic sound for the band, and if they could have tied in some vocals people would be going nuts right now. It's epic, progressive, and I can see fans of 70's Italian Progressive Rock band Goblin being into this. Now, I'll be honest, I didn't completely dig "Dance Macabre" the first few times I heard it. But with just how mediocre some of the tracks are here, this literally sounds like gold. It's dark, but it has just enough human qualities to it to be completely understandable. I mean, it's still far from the heaviness we've come to know from the band. But thank the stars that Ghost can still write a hook. But at this point, I just really want this album to take off. Go all out and give me a few legitimately Metal tracks. And let me tell you, it's not "Pro Memoria". This is another very sluggish ballad. Obviously it's dark and all, and it has that great atmosphere. But who was expecting this? Who was expecting an almost completely light and toothless album. This is barely a Metal album, with more ties to the dreaded Arena Rock than anything. I mean, I'll be real with you, this certainly has a good amount of well-written lyrics, and it's still an anthem to all things unholy. But outside of that, I'm falling asleep. But hey, what do you know? "Witch Image" actually has a little oomph to it. I mean, it's literally just a little heavier with some Metal elements. But at this point, that's all I need. This one really reminds me of a lot of the material on "Meliora" to be honest. It's delightfully twisted and horrible, but it's also incredibly catchy and it sticks with you. To me, this is just the sound of where they should be. It's so obvious too, like they barely put any effort in and it sounds great.
But apparently, to ask Ghost to continue down this path is too much to ask. I actually feel like half of the material on this album was made for a soundtrack. And let me tell you, it's not a very good one. "Helvetesfönster" is up next, and the fact that this very whimsical, elegant and charming instrumental is a Ghost track is depressing. And when it does pick up with some more instrumentals, it doesn't get much better. Like, I have no problem with some of the more elegant moments of this album, it makes Ghost who they are. But I have no idea when they became a damn Symphonic Metal band. The other instrumental track we got earlier breathed new energy into this album. But " Helvetesfönster" is straight up goofy. To the point that when those synths boom in they are legitimately the coolest thing about this track. And did I mention this goes on for 6 minutes? And if you thought we were getting an actual Metal track as a finale, you're absolutely wrong. "Life Eternal" is just another teary-eyed Arena Rock ballad. And no, it's not very good. I have to give credit to these tracks because in small doses they seem like they belong in the same universe as Ghost's other albums. But track after track of these sappy fucking tunes has me feeling betrayed.
Rating: 6.4/10
Give a Listen To: "Rats", "Miasma", "Dance Macabre", "Witch Image"
Least Favorite Track: "Pro Memoria"
Genre: Heavy Metal / Doom Metal
Overall Thoughts: Swedish Metal greats Ghost come back with an album that's easily their most cinematic album yet. Sadly though, it's also their least Metal. Of the 10 tunes here, the majority don't even feature a guitar as the prominent instrument. And no, it's not really that good at all. This album has some good qualities, like the ghouls embracing their legendary campiness to ridiculous new levels, and when Ghost are on they're writing their best songs in years. But the majority of this album is barely Metal, and in it's place are these teary eyed ballads that I don't know how to take or even describe. Some of these tracks wouldn't have been bad if placed sparingly throughout future albums. But hearing them all back to back has literally made me lose so much respect for this once epic band.
No comments:
Post a Comment