GHOST BRIGADE „“Guided by Fire””

Music: Post Hardcore/Goth
Country: Finland
Web site: www.ghostbrigade.net
Cool Songs: Hold on Thin Line, Autoemotive

GHOST BRIGADE is another group from the endless seas of talent in Finland. While GHOST BRIGADE possesses some of the style heavily sought after in their home country, melodic death metal, this group is quite different from the melo death acts known throughout Finland. Even the term, melo death is not an entirely correct description of their sound. Sure, the scales of hard and soft are balanced, but their approach shows little similarities to bands like CHILDREN OF BODOM and KALHAM, or atmospheric doom bands of their country.

Many of the songs contain atmospheric, tranquil passages. The tempo and intensity of “Deliberatively” alternates between soft and hard, starting with a slumbering orchestration of minimal piano keys and clean guitar. The group cranks up the distortion in medium-paced rhythms that owe more to NEUROSIS than the down tempo movement of SHAPE OF DESPAIR or the up tempo string play of an IN FLAMES. Most of the riffing recalls a experimental post hardcore groups such as NEUROSIS and ISIS, but they will bust out the occasional IN FLAMES or DARK TRANQUILITY moment found in “Horns” and “Based on You.” Many of their guitar rhythms also resemble KATATONIA in style, pace and mood. Instead of opting for a black metal shriek or death metal growl, this group opts for hardcore/metalcore vociferations.

Due to success in the doom and melodic death scenes, one could easily make an assumption about how GHOST BRIGADE should sound. When one combines such factors as their dark imagery gracing the album cover and the inclusion of Aleksi Munter (SWALLOW THE SUN) as session keyboardist, and their country’s reputation for funeral doom, it is easy to make the assumption this is a doom band.

They should get a pat on the back for stepping out of the confines of an established scene in their homeland, but the music they create is less than spectacular. The spooky vibe of the keys doesn’t come out enough, and is placed too far back in the mix. The guitars do not have the captivating power of NEUROSIS or the catchiness of the major melodic death acts. Due to their sing along capabilities, the clean, goth vocals are the group’s greatest trait. There are moments of brilliance on “Guided by Fire,” but not enough to make it one of the key releases of last year.

note: 6/10

Tracklist

1. Rails at the River
2. Hold on thin Line
3. Horns
4. Minus Side
5. Away and here
6. Along the Barriers
7. Based on you
8. Disgusted by the Light
9. Autoemotive
10. Deliberately
Total playing time 44:54

Line-up

Manne Ikonen – Vocals, Live Guitar
Tommi Kiviniemi – Guitar
Wille Naukkarinen – Guitar
Janne Julin –
Veli-Matti Suihkonen – Drums
Aleksi Munter – Session Keyboards