Ghost BC – Infestissumam
Label: Sonet Records/Loma Vista
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Now, there exists some bits of music that have such a creepy factor, they are best reviewed under the cover of night, while burning candles and cloaked in hooded robe. Infestissumam is such an album. The other situation that calls for it is anything by Justin Timberlake.
Sweden’s Ghost B.C. is a band that no one is a hundred percent sure of who or what it consists of, human or something else. So I can’t even give you names of the members, they are known simply as: “Papa Emeritus” the leader and “Various Nameless Ghouls”. We can sort of be sure they started in Sweden in the year 2008. Prior to the release of this album they put out “Opus Eponymous” in 2010. They may very well be as non-existent and hard to prove as any spirit and can only be described as orchestral metal. It is epic, bold, and as imposing as the Vatican itself. If you’re like me and often take time out of your day to pretend you’re leading the Philharmonic or are a possessed puppeteer waving your arms in sheer joy then consider your dark prayers have now been answered.
All the tracks on this album show that the band has (in my humble opinion) the chops to convey feelings, and depth and dimensions. Yes, they are sort of weird creepy circus vibe feelings, and the dimension may be one you’d rather not stay in for all eternity. But seriously creative, and gave me an urge to write the review while upside down in honor of them.
We see a good example on “Secular Haze”: I am sure they got the cauldron out for this one, and started with a pinch of Alice Cooper for seasoning, rock dinosaur juice base of Blue Oyster Cult, dash of Emerson Lake and Palmer, and the left pinky toe off a stage actor for theatrical bent.
Track #5 is one of my faves, yeah! “Ghuleh-Zombie Queen”, this is one queen who knows how to throw a party on the beach. If all you surfing zombies out there are in need an anthem I suggest this track. Overall it’s as soft and supple as a worn out leather bota bag. The piano is haunting and sounds almost forlorn, but wait…then we get a trippy, bouncy interlude that catches you off guard.
“Body and Blood” — The guitar solo on this one is a deliciously sweet use of instrument.
“Depth of Satan’s Eyes”– If Satan’s eyes are as dark and lovely as this piece of music I would willingly gaze into them. But not for very long mind you, just long enough.
“Jigolo Har Megiddo” is delightful, and the psychedelic tint of “Idolatrine” pulls me back to my misspent childhood. “Suffer little children…”
The album closes with a cover of Abba’s “I’m a Marionette”, for those with the deluxe version. The album was produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Stone Sour, Deftones).
Infestissumam is an album of fun and high theatrics with am admitted touch of cheese in the mix. If The Monkees went metal they might just sound like…Hey wait, has anyone seen Mike Nesmith or Peter Tork lately? Hmmm…
I have been informed that if you play the album backwards while walking in circles on the night of a full moon, spirits will appear to escort you to the underworld. No, I am only joking, but wouldn’t it be kool if that was for real…Bwahaha! So, this offering can only be summed up as “Awesomeness” steeped in awesomeness, surrounded by yes you guessed it, freaking awesomeness! 8 out of 10…check it out and check into an alternate reality if you dare.
