Review Summary: A touch of grace as they smash your face in.
Hardcore three piece Ghostlimb need no introductions. Their self titled debut begins with a ferocious intensity that does not let up for a second throughout its 15 minute length, much to the efforts of the band; there is always a continued energy, a greater focus if you will, on delivering short packets of concentrated hostility that intertwine melody and grace with a touch of class only an incredibly talented band such as this one could pull off.
Ghostlimb is, in every sense of the word, a complete and utter resonant assault; although the album is, for the most part, a pure deliberation of aggression, the band’s passionate performance is not brought down by its relentless anger. ‘Complete Works’ begins with a melodic riff that works its way around an ardent, belligerent vocal performance, before descending into an inexorable breakdown, one which puts the icing on the minute long song’s cake.
There is a very noticeable progression in each song; building up with various forms of aggression and ardor, the tracks continually round themselves off, leaving each song feeling complete and whole. Given this, and the strict adherence to not wasting the listener’s time,
Ghostlimb remains a constantly invigorating experience, never reusing musical themes or recycling riffs. Nonetheless, there is a fantastic cohesion between the eleven tracks, each one flowing into the next and fitting into the album superbly; the band has taken great care in making sure there are no disruptions to the album’s flow, allowing it to smoothly lodge itself in one’s mind.
Ultimately,
Ghostlimb leaves itself as an unforgettable 15 minute experience. Easily deciphered but hiding beneath the shroud of wider depth, it’s an album that does in 15 minutes what many cannot do in an hour, and is simply a success in its attempt at creating a cohesive and fluid piece of music. Highly recommended.
