I Am Ghost – Lovers' Requiem
(2006)

Review by Max Roach

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I Am Ghost are seeing a great response to the release of their latest album, following good success from their last EP, which sold over 20,000 copies - and all this after performing only four live shows. Most of I Am Ghost's success can be put down to to their clever online networking abilities, which has created a frenzy for this self declared "post hardcore/emo/goth" band. 

The band has an extremely well-balanced sound, with strings and female vocals that add greatly to the overall sound without ever really crowding it. However, more than a hint of post production fiddling is apparent (which is no surprise seeing its produced by Michael Baskette and David Holdrege who produced Escape the Fate's latest album and many epitaph artists...), but this doesn't take away from the overall edge of the album.

"Lovers' Requiem" starts off with a good dose of atmosphere-building Gothic Latin versing that leads into their best track Our Friend Lazareth Sleeps, with very strong rooted drums and tearing guitars with a hint of soft strings very well placed amongst the controlled mayhem.

I Am Ghost completely overshadow all other emo bands with their Goth overtones, still referencing the dark world many other bands sing about - the band seems to come across a lot less apathetic than most. Although their songs vary from poppy (you'll hear this in Pretty People Never Lie) and the more punky sound of Dark Carnival of the Immaculate they maintain a consistent stance throughout the album.

If you like long winded Goth intros to hardcore emo songs this band will not fail to please, complete with Latin operatic intros into fast paced tracks. 

The back and forth between the male and female vocalists becomes old rather quickly, however the fast changing changing drum beats help keep most of the band's songs sounding fresh, despite some of the lyrics being extremely cheesy.

If Goths had a 'party metal' genre this band would ream itself into first place and cement this album in the annals of such a genre, but I am still unsure of the demographic the band is trying to target, and I think trying to break boundaries may come off too 'Goth rock' for the emo kids and too cheesy for the core Goth crowd.

Over all, these guys seem like they are here to stay with this powerful album that - while not perfect - is still something I can't seem to stop listening to. Although saying that makes me feel like a thirteen year old at an Casey Donovan concert...

With a tour list that falls off the page for the U.S. it's a sure thing that these guys would be a great live band to experience, but judging by some of the bio pics perhaps we might be better off just listening to them from behind a curtain.

If you liked A.F.I's older stuff, and bands like My Chemical Romance and HIM, you should check this out.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

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