The Ghost Inside - Returners
Rating
RIYL
It PrevailsStick To Your Guns
Misery Signals
Release Date
06/08/2010
Label
MediaskareTracklist
01. Walk Away From The World02. Greater Distance
03. Between The Lines (with Brendan Foley of Betrayal)
04. Unspoken
05. Overlooked
06. Chrono (with Mat Bruso formerly Of Bury Your Dead)
07. The Conflict (with Tommy Green of Sleeping Giant)
08. Downbeat
09. The Returner
10. Through The Cracks
11. Truth And Temper
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In the hardcore scene, we don’t ask for much to keep us in high spirits. All we ask for is a consistency in musicianship instead of redundancy, integrity instead of half-assed passion, and some very sturdy balls of steel instead of fake toughness. To find a band that can take the basic fundamentals of this sacred style of music and have the heart to do something a bit different with it is hard to come by. Take for example melodic hardcore. Melodic hardcore seems to be an outfit most are trying on nowadays. However, most of those trying are failing miserably and making the said scene a redundant carousel of ghastly music. The Ghost Inside hit hard with their first full length, Fury And The Fallen Ones, making it known that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with. Since that release, The Ghost Inside has built an army of followers that have been begging for a follow up to their first colossal release. What’s the band’s answer to this high demand for new music? An album that will lift you off your feet, throw you against the wall, and help you back up when all is said and done… an album called Returners.
Your first step into the realm of Returners is a bit of a shaky one. The intro is puzzling. However, all is well after that first ninety seconds and the album kicks into full gear with the first track “Greater Distance”. Right from the crack of the bat this track is a reassurance that you are in the midst of encountering what may very well be an album of the year. Displaying instrumentation that is crisper than ever, vocals that are larger than Oprah in her heyday and lyrical content that exhibits positivity through distress, “Greater Distance” is the over-possessive mother that has all her children on a leash leading them through this harsh world, setting them up to become prime adults in this world gone to hell. Following close to its motherly predecessor is the first single released off this album, “Between The Lines”. It commences with a melodic guitar riff backed by a drum beat that resembles a fine tuned, idling engine. Vigil’s ever so present vocals are flawlessly supported by this hard driving drum work. There are several tempo changes that make for a pleasing listen through its entirety. Lyrically this song delivers several one liners that will surely be seen in everyone’s Facebook statuses for months to come. Be sure to pay close attention for Brendan Foley’s (Betrayal) guest vocals toward the end as he demonstrates some vocal brutality.
“Unspoken” is the true definition of this album’s meaning and sound. This track possesses lyrical content that is nothing but uplifting while residing over a core of feel-good musicianship. As tight as a boy scout’s specialty knot with quick and heavy Tyson like punches, “Unspoken” has that perfect party sound to it which is convenient seeing as how this is the choice selection for the band’s first video off the album and it's plot is just one giant party. The next notable track should be the second single that was released, “Chrono”. This track, while still intense, stays more on the melodic side. Featuring Mat Bruso, formerly of Bury Your Dead, this track definitely provides some moments of self-clarity while sending goose-bumps throughout your entire body. It should also be noted that Bruso sounds better than ever and has without a doubt proven to be missed in the scene. Continuing on the path of tracks with featured guests is “The Conflict”, featuring Tommy Green of Sleeping Giant. Having Tom on this track is especially fitting seeing as how the concept behind it is regarding the two sides of Christianity in the hardcore scene. “The Conflict” is heavy and precise and is truly a fine display of this band's fine musicianship.
Vigil stated that this album is supposed to be a concept album concerning the return home from life on the road and noticing that everything and everyone has changed. If this is the case then “Through The Cracks” and “Truth and Temper” are perfect selections to close the album off with. Both tracks have dark, yet uplifting lyrics that will keep your hair raised and enough balls-out breakdowns and gang chants to keep your feet moving and head bobbing. The production quality of this album is superb, and it should be noted that the drum work is beyond top notch. Although every aspect on the album stands out in front of each other at separate times, the drums have a consistently crisp sound making for a very congenial listen.
So is Returners a step ahead of The Ghost Inside’s previous work? No… but it’s not a step back either. It’s exactly what the fans have been waiting and asking for. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about anyways? After listening to this album there shouldn’t be any doubt in anyone’s mind in relation to whether or not this band is about the fans. So yeah, this album has chugga-chug breakdowns all over it and perhaps a healthy amount of gang chants… SO WHAT? If you’re sitting there and letting that impede your listening to this album, well then you need to get your head out of your ass and get over yourself. The hardcore scene has become full of pretentious tightwads as of late and hopefully this subgenre of melodic hardcore will continue to thrive by means of bands like The Ghost Inside so that all the whining “tough guys” keep their fitted hats low and mouths shut. So in closing, two thumbs up to The Ghost Inside for keeping their integrity and releasing an album that everyone should go out and acquire.
--Bill Lohr
Comments
Kansas
very good stuff. didn't have a hard time getting into this at all
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San Diego, CA
Right on
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Glasgow, Scotland
Great review. Spot on.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Thank you. Yea, this album is absolutely amazing.
Alabama
Great review Bill. This album really is amazing.
Wisconsin
the conflict is the best song on here. probably their best song yet.
however, there's around five tracks i could do without : intro, greater distance, overlooked, the returner, and truth and temper...all kinda boring.
still one of the best live bands today though.
Coopersburg, PA
Yeah I'm with you there, I only really dig like half the songs on this album, the rest use pretty much the same guitar riff mixed with different breakdowns. They would really benefit from another guitar player.
Minneapolis, MN
Great review, Bill. However, I gotta say I'm disappointed you didn't mention Downbeat. That and Between The Lines are my two favorite tracks both lyrically and musically.
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Dubuque
Did not get into this disc at all. Found it kind of monotous.
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Wisconsin
lyrics are awesome though
Illinois
i think it's a solid album that doesn't focus on breakdowns too much. compare them to other bands that are out there, and they really stand out musically and lyrically.
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Coopersburg, PA
Thank you! I was beginning to think I was crazy for not liking it that much.
Dubuque
I prefer the new Stick To Your Guns over this.
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Coopersburg, PA
I completely agree, I think that deserves more attention and is an all around better hardcore album.
Lehigh Valley, PA
The new STYG is weak in my opinion. Sure this album may be monotonous at times but it does not try to be anything but what it is. That's why it is so good.
Infinitely Inwards
This album is epic and awesome....I am not a fan of hardcore music, but this might make me start dabbling.
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Kansas
ya I tried for quite a while with styg new one and just couldn't enjoy it as much as I really wanted to
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Minnesota
Why the hell did I wait so long to listen to this? It's frickin' awesome!
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