There’s been a good amount of buzz surrounding Ghost Bath lately. Mainly because of all the rumors surrounding the band members themselves; originally thought to be from China, it was revealed in a recent interview that the band is based out of North Dakota and implied that the band itself may only be one guy. Such revelations and rumors sent some waves through the DSMB scene, giving them a popularity boost and setting them up as “China’s answer to Deafheaven” (to quote Noisey magazine).
Although that’s a fairly inaccurate statement, as the similarities between Ghost Bath and Deafheaven are pretty far and few between, save a few aspects here and there. In fact this doesn’t really sound like black metal all that much. The influence is obvious, but to call them strictly a black metal band isn’t accurate. Instead, they are more of a complicated hybrid genre of post rock, black metal, ambient and even some rock and alternative music. It certainly isn’t like anything I’ve heard before, and I must say that I am really impressed.
Compositionally and musically, this album is astounding. These tracks are diverse, moody and very creative, almost progressive in some parts. Tracks often shift tempo and style at the drop of a hat, going from some very noisy, visceral black metal movements to deeply somber and emotive post-rock melodies, tragic acoustic sections, and some more classic rock like soaring guitar riffs. It’s all so well put together, and all these constant shifts from movement to movement and style to style are all so seamless and transition so well into each other, never once feeling convoluted and creating some very inspired, sweet melodies. It’s all very complex, but still remains catchy, easy to understand and pretty accessible. It’s a very easy album to get into and stay interested in the whole way though. Nothing feels thrown in or like “filler” at all; even the track “Afterlife” which is just total dead silence feels complimentary to the overall atmosphere. It all has a very emotionally charged vibe as well, ranging from bitterly tragic (such as “Burial” and “Procession”) to blissfully optimistic (such as “Forever” and “Birth”), but always being able to put the listener into the emotional state it’s trying to convey. But then other times, the album becomes very eerie sounding; there are some creepy samples spread throughout, from a woman crying to distorted choir, it’s has a spooky quality to it. Even if you dislike the final musical product, it’s hard to deny that these guys have a lot of talent.
So I have no complaints about the musicianship at all. However I have to bring up the vocals; they’re not for everyone. There is a clear Silencer influence in this department, comprising of almost nothing but high pitch shrieks and howls that are absent of any melody, structure or any musical element whatsoever. They are defiantly an acquired taste, and while I don’t find them as horrendous as many do, it’s not hard to understand why other people would. But even though they are not the most aesthetically pleasing to listen to, they add a touch of originality, giving the sound a more distinct sound compared to if he went with traditional black metal rasp. They also sound very painful, adding a lot to the mournful atmosphere this album does so well at conveying. Now, they do get a bit obnoxious at certain times, sound a bit silly in others, but in the end, I was pleased with the vocal work overall.
To put it simply, “Funeral” is a fantastic album. Its unique nature is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise fairly stagnant sub genre, but it’s not for everyone. The vocals are enough to push people away, but the music itself is great. It’s a damn near perfect way to craft a debut and by far my favorite album of 2014.
