Album Review: I Am Ghost - Those We Leave Behind

11 months ago 05th Dec 11:00

Not quite as hot as Patrick Swayze in Ghost; but they'll do.

I Am Ghost are the newest emo / screamo / hardcore band on the scene at the minute, and with an impending tour on the horizon, I thought it was about time to check out their album, These We Leave Behind.

The first track - after the minute long intro that ever band seems to be doing nowadays - is Don�t Wake Up is nothing we haven�t heard before from every other emo band on the planet; but as a closet emo kid, I think it�s a good introduction to the five guys from Long Beach, California.

Those We Leave Behind takes a different turn with singer Steve Juliano ripping his throat out from the offset to deliver ear clenching screams that transform them into a A Day To Remember tribute band who listens to a bit too much My Chemical Romance to quite �get it.�

Buried Way Too Shallow is another cute emo-pop hit which echoes the sound of fellow Californians Atreyu. With is sing-along chorus and twisting guitar chords, it�s an instant winner for anyone with a soft spot for American rock bands.

Bone Garden was the lead single from the album and although in its own right it is another good song, it fails to stand out from the rest of the tracks on the album. It has the expected mix of melodic singing, screams and rhythmic choruses.

The title of Saddest Story Never Told instantly puts me off as I�m seeing kids dressed in striped socks, fairy wings and teardrops on their faces getting almost orgasmic at such a suicidal title. I gave it a chance though and the guitar solo (almost) in the centre of the song gives a little bit of the guitar hero sound that we were previously lacking, and the final minute it feels like I�ve got Story Of The Year on iTunes.

Smile Of A Jesus Freak isn�t exactly the holiest song I�ve ever heard, and I don�t think it will go down too well with the �straight edge� kids who live a life of saints. I never really get that you know: they don�t smoke, drink or have sex before marriage, but then they listen to songs about suicide and death� hypocrisy anyone?

So, I Guess This Is Goodbye is their tribute to My Chemical Romance, and to be honest, It might sound a little better with Gerard Way belting out the vocals, but you�ve got to hand it to them, they make a pretty good go at it, and good on them for trying.

We can pause for breath / a wee / to make a cup of tea / a cheeky fag whilst Interlude: I Remember This Face ,Baby rattles out for a minute and half before we�re back to Burn The Bodies To The Ground and if you were starting to get distracted by anything in the room, this songs makes a bloody good job of getting your attention back.

It�s as though the guys want to throw every last inch of their talent in getting you to like them, and you know something� as emo as it sounds (haha) It bloody works a treat. I�m tapping my slippers on the floor and doing a little shoulder groove to go with it.

Make Me Believe This Is Real takes us into another bands backyard, this time I feel like I�ve got Ville Valo coming in my ears - now there�s a thought - as the show, deliberate vocals work wonderfully with the colossal background beats. I love songs like this, they are slow and sexual and make me get little butterflies in my belly when I hear them for the first time. God, I�m such a geek.

I wonder exactly what the title of They Always Seem To Come Back could be referring to, is it women, dogs or maybe even Frisbees? Either way, I�m sure the lyrics �Let's bring back the colours then take our picture, This coffin meant for you and me� might be meant for a lady friend. Lets hope not though, as I�m hoping these guys are single and might just prefer the living to the dead. Doubt it though.

The breaks in sound on this track and the happy-times feel work in great contrast to the dark, death-filled lyrics. It doesn�t get much happier with Set Me Free either, but I think this is the sound they�re going for� �dark and mysterious� but I think a lesson with William Control�s �Hate Culture� album might give them a little more food for thought.

The song titles and the goth-metal front cover give the impression of a expertly crafted metal album, but what you actually get for your money is a scene kids dream.

The guys show how uber-talented they are by managing to pull of hardcore screamo songs alongside the emo-kid heartbreaker tracks and even the odd new Found Glory-esqe hit like Rock N� Roll High School Murder. Bloody inspirational.

If you�re into Metallica and the greats, then don�t bother and spend some money on shampoo instead, but if your heart lies with Avenged Sevenfold, My Chemical Romance and the odd smidgen of Atreyu, then you might just make a little mess listening to this record.

The old emo kids better watch out because I Am Ghost are the newest, meanest, undead kids on the street.

Rating; 4/5 - For a first-time offering it�s a good effort showcasing their wide range of talents.

Skip To: Make Me Believe This Is Real - It�s not like many of the other offerings on the album, but it�s blinking good!