EP REVIEW: Torture World – Great American Ghost

Is it even possible to draw a line between metal and hardcore at this point? With so much cross pollination between scenes, any such exercise would be arbitrary at best, and incendiary at worst. One of the many bands who would certainly complicate matters are GREAT AMERICAN GHOST. The Boston-based trio would arguably fit right at home in both camps, seemingly owing as much to MESHUGGAH as they do to MINOR THREAT. It’s with this relatively boundary-free M.O. that the band have released three solid, savage full-lengths, including most recently 2020’s career best Power Through Terror. Now, looking to carry on that fine form, GAG are back with Torture World, a four-track EP that finds them dealing once again in an uncompromising mix of all things violent.

Right from the outset, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST set the aggro meter at a 10 on Torture World. Opener Kingmaker makes for an explosion of politically-charged bile that sits atop chugging riffs and pummelling double kick work. Lyrically, it aims its ire at QAnon conspiracy theorists, with vocalist Ethan Harrison refusing to pull any of his punches. As the track builds to a devastating breakdown he provides an early contender for best mosh call of 2022 with “Careful what you wish for you fucking cowards!”, followed by repeatedly merciless cries of “You asked for the war/So don’t ask for forgiveness.”

True to form, GAG show little interest in sticking within the confines of specific genres or subgenres throughout Torture World. Where Kingmaker was more of a straight-up rager, the title track which follows it is far more expansive. It’s still hugely aggressive – not least in its moments of more bludgeoning death metal – but also sees Harrison throw in some melodic clean parts that have become all but synonymous with modern metalcore. These appear again on closer Death Forgives No One, arriving after the punishing metallic blast of third track Womb. The latter of these is arguably the record’s nastiest, its rapid drum work backing dissonant, blackened lead lines. 

For all their myriad influences, GREAT AMERICAN GHOST do an impressive job of tying everything together on Torture World. Death metal, hardcore, metalcore, black metal… it all merges into a cohesive work of impressive and sadistic force. The production, handled by one of the scene’s finest in Will Putney, is top notch too. The drums and guitars sound massive, while Harrison’s vocals cut through with consistent clarity. All told, it makes for yet another solid addition to GREAT AMERICAN GHOST’s ever-strengthening discography, and will no doubt stoke fresh excitement for a much-anticipated fourth full-length.

Rating: 8/10

Torture World is set for release on January 21st via MNRK Heavy.

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