Review Summary: An excellent blend of groove rock and metal gives this album an edge above others - One of the better debut albums of modern times.
I admit, I'm rather late to hell's dinner party with Ghost B.C.
I bought their most recent album back in April of 2013 (Infestissumam), and was delighted by my purchase. However, soon after my spontaneous shopping spree in a dank music store (HMV), I discovered their debut album, Opus Eponymous.
This album blew me away for a variety of reasons. It was snappy, solid, well mixed and covered pretty much ever genre of music I regularly listen to - Rock, Folk, Metal and Doom Metal. I'll go into the mixing of the album a little later. But I'll jump straight in and give an overview (in my opinion) of each track in order of appearance in the album.
1) Deus Culpa
This is the most basic track in the album, and my least favorite - but that's not saying much considering it's just organ music that will give you a headache 10 seconds in if you are wearing a High Fidelity pair of phones. Having said this, the intro track does a lovely job of setting the (Antichrist) mood, and slowly, yet surely, edges you into the first song...
2) Con Clavi Con Dio
Genesis 1:1 'And in the beginning God created the bass and the Hi-hat'. I personally am a big fan of songs that draw you in slowly or give a slight instrumental intro. And this song delivers. A crisp, galloping bass, before the ting ting joins in.. then all hell breaks loose (If you'll pardon the pun). This song really gets you in the spirit of the album, and the slow, monotone vocals almost entice the listener down to Ghost's deep, dank lair (or wherever they hang out). Chants and 'oooh, aaaah's' join the already frantic bass, and give this song an intriguing choral vibe.
3) Ritual
One of my favorite Ghost songs, you think at the start "Doom metal? This is folk-rock!".. until around the 40 second mark when we are forced to "smell the dead human sacrifices". Much of this song is a heavy groove laced with deep vocal hymns and satanic murmurings. It's hard not to want to learn the lyrics, light some candles, slit a goats neck and scream along to the song (Not recommended, do not try this at home). What really get's me in this track is the electric guitar though. Unlike other songs, the guitar does not simply stick to one fret sequence, yet scales the whole neck of the instrument. Excellent song.
4) Elizabeth
A song about my ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth has a beautiful chorus, preceded and followed by yet more dark vocals and frantic palm muted fret work. From the get go, this song is attempting to make you headband so hard your neck will snap in several places. The drums help to push this beat forward while guitars get trippy and the organ acts as back up. There's not much more to say on this track, I feel that it is average for the album - Brilliant chorus, yet slightly off intro. But everything else is gold.
5) Stand By Him
Elizabeth offered the most beautiful chorus of the album, yet this song produced my favorite and the best hook. Every time I hear "Tis' the night of the witch, the night of the witch tonight" I just get a little shiver up my spine. However, aside from the chorus (which granted takes up much of the song), the rest seems a little too familiar to the likes of Elizabeth. Still, a song not to be skipped.
6) Satan Prayer
My best friend and I have a little saying we like to use form time to time. "Ghost. They actually worship Satan". You think Avenged Sevenfold worship the devil? You believe that Death pray to Beelzebub? You haven't heard Satan prayer. THE catchiest song on this incredible album. It really is one long vocal tribute to Satan, offering up a mans soul. The drum leads the song and give way to both electric guitars and bass, which take a turn in giving a galloping effect close to the chorus, such as the likes of 'Con Clavi Con Dio'. However, I feel that it is the vocals that push this song to the top. Not the lyrics (although i'm loving the repeated talk of Satan's kingdom), but the vocal range. Papa Emeritus really puts his mark on this album by offering murmuring, hisses, highs and lows. A treat for any rock/metal fan.
7) Death Knell
The song begins with a storm. Quite literally. and marks for anybody who can guess the first word used? (Hint: Begins with an S, rhymes with Clayton). This track is eerie at best, with an echo effect put upon the pre-chorus, controverted by the choruses smooth and arpeggiated guitar riffs. Ghost get extra marks for somehow singing '666'. Great chorus, good build up.
8) Prime Mover
The penultimate track (I've really enjoyed writing about this while stuffing a GHOST B.C. brand totem up my butt). This is a more rock-ability track with great bass and guitar movements. The lyrics are good and vocals even better. There is not a whole lot else to say about this one - go see for yourself.
9) The final track. Genesis.
Genesis is an instrumental, and a brilliant one at that. It's one of the best instrumental songs form a metal album, and has many influences laced in (the acoustic guitar at the close is beautiful as Elizabeth's chorus and screams Mike Oldfield). The instrumental echos many traits from previous songs and is great as a closer (this would not have worked as well if positioned in the middle of the album). One of the best on the debut record.
The mixing for this album is great. Lovely bass, yet not too overpowering. The treble is shrill, yet not so that you feel you ears are being violated by one thousand angry dwarf penises (unless you like that, you dirty boy). The mixing artist has made great use of the stereo aspect by having various instruments jump from ear to ear on a regular basis.
All in all, this album gets a 4.5 for me. Not a bad song on the list, yet one or two may seem a little alike for some. This album is best experienced in a bath of blood with a goats carcass (I hope you kept yours from the earlier mentioned ritual) slung around your neck as an offering to 'he almighty'. And don't forget the totem.
