If you haven’t heard of Ghøstkid, it’ll be because they haven’t really made much of a name for themselves yet, it is however, the brainchild of former Eskimo Callboy vocalist Sushi, and together they made a name for themselves with a steady stint of regular studio releases and satirical themes with lyrical waxing usual evolving around drink and partying etc. Slightly a marmite band, there are those that love them and those that hate them. Ghøstkid is the outcome of a battle of one’s self belief, overcoming the comfort of the band you’ve grown with and stepping out alone without the safety blanket. The album touches on the darker side of life, there is something cathartic about being able to channel everything going on into something and use it as an anchor so to speak, and Sushi seems to have done that whilst building this band around him.
From the very start, that darker sound is present in ‘Føøl’, an explosive introduction that’ll wake the dead, the industrial electronic sound gets some violent treatment before breaking out in some really infectiously catchy chorus parts. If that wasn’t enough, ‘Start a Fight’ throws a hand grenade of hooks at with its variety, each riff, beat and vocal catch all has its way of getting into you, plenty going on, but it is tidy.
Continuing on a hot streak, the creativity flows strong, and come the halfway point we are treated to the first of many guests on ‘This is Nøt Høllywøød’ with rapper, Timi Hendrix, the chemistry on the song works really well, with that to set a post by, the chemistry between Ghøstkid and the guests is something that makes the second half of the album a bit special too, with appearances from Marcus Bischoff, Mille Petrozza and Johnny 3 Tears (on a second variation of ‘This is Nøt Høllywøød’ ) Clearly mixing it up with a ballad in between and a nod to the ’80s between guest slots. This has a lot going on throughout, the album is a firm metalcore album, but it really delves into other pools and delivers a packed out blend. As a first release, it is impressive to say the least just how much you can get out of it, and it deserves to be a firm favourite for those into the music of bands like Bring Me The Horizon, later years Marilyn Manson and so on.
I am no way a fan of those bands or this style, but even then I find myself pleasantly surprised by how refreshing Ghøstkid are.
