ALBUM REVIEW: Ghosts Among Us – All Souls
Los Angeles’ ALL SOULS have carved out a reputation for themselves by creating song with uniquely dark, poetic lyrics with intricately melodic guitar melodies to create deeply atmospheric rock. Having been handpicked to tour with the likes of TOOL and MELVINS, they have a distinctive and unique perspective of the world around them, creating sharply observational music that is intelligent, majestic and thought provoking. Their third album, Ghosts Among Us, brings in the bombastic elements of their previous record, 2020’s Songs For The End Of The World, but bridges the gap between light and dark further with more unusual melodies and progressive atmospheres.
There is a wonderful gothic mystique about ALL SOULS‘ music, and Ghosts Among Us is no different. The way in which the songs are constructed and bridged with eerie and otherworldly guitar melodies makes you feel like you’re attending a carnival for lost souls. With this in mind, there is a beautifully romantic and hauntingly melancholic aura surrounding the album, as if you’re constantly crossing between the realms of the living and the dead.
Unafraid to blur the lines between light and dark, Ghosts Among Us moves through a variety of different places and spaces, each bringing a new strangeness or bizarre set of characters and circumstances. It all feels like an obscure dream where it is simultaneously pleasurable but unnervingly strange. ALL SOULS also offer a delightful contradiction of intensely colourful music but because of the album artwork’s appearance you feel obliged to listen and watch the imagery conjured up in your mind in black and white.
There is also a dark mysticism that surrounds the Californian state as Native American, Mexican and American folklore comes together in a variety of ways. Something about Ghosts Among Us leads you to believe that ALL SOULS have been influenced by this, as this album, in comparison to Songs For The End of the World, feels more clandestine and cryptic. Lyrically, the album is open to interpretation, yet surprisingly poignant. As you explore the various songs you can see aspects of your own situation in ALL SOULS‘ observations of the world. Yet all of the songs seem to be linked, whether that it is an intentional narrative or not, this is an album that you can’t put on shuffle as its magic would be lost.
Whilst it still contains the signature brand of rock that they’re known for, this record moves away from the punchier, punk sound and into more atmospheric territory. Opting for a fuzzier, warmer 1970s sound compared to the sharper modern production of their previous records, yet containing the grit of 90s grunge, Ghosts Among Us is certainly a unique sounding album. With this in mind, it feels more focused and knows what it wants to be, finely balancing the classic rock elements with ethereal atmospheres.
I Dream opens the album and it feels like that moment when Alice falls into the rabbit hole. You’re instantly thrust into this dizzying song as it prepares you for the rest of the album. Roam has a steady rhythm that fuels the steps you take across a the wildernesses of California with the guitar melodies representing the stars that glimmer and shine in the ink black sky. Poison The Well is where you begin to see the real gothic majesty in this album, with eerie vocals augmented by anatomically spiralling guitar riffs. Marjorie is what conjures up the carnival of souls imagery; the jaunty, almost THE CURE-esque riff and organ combo create a spooky atmosphere as ghosts bob along to carnival music.
Who Holds The Answer opens with a curious offbeat riff that leads into a slow, pensive song as you search for an answer that is buried deep within you. A similar vibe and format is used on Key To Your Heart, which feels like a part two to Who Holds The Answer. Grind has a frantic energy to it that reminds you of the daily rush and the aching exhaustion you feel from seemingly constant work. Crawl is the most disorientating and spooky song on the album; with rhythms that quickly move between frantic beats and slow grooves, the weird energy has you feeling on edge. Album closer Absquatulate is an epic track with an incredibly catchy vocal hook that will be ringing in your ears for days. It also has horror film title theme written all over it.
ALL SOULS continue to deliver their majestically dark brand of rock; Ghosts Among Us has ghosts embedded in its core. It’s gothic and spooky yet powerfully poignant as it observes the continual darkness of the world. Yet it is a highly enjoyable journey through light and dark and ALL SOULS‘ unique sound is refreshingly original.
Rating: 8/10
Ghosts Among Us is set for release on October 21st via Oscura Records.
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