By Phil Cooper
We can largely all agree that the last year or so has been pretty bleak. Now for some of us, there is the whisper of a promising step of getting back to a ‘normal’ state of affairs and with winter certainly turning to spring there is a vague sense of uplift. However, Suffolk based five-piece Ghosts of Atlantis would like to introduce you to their brand of melodic led black metal. Incorporating elements that liken their sound to Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth, it’s safe to assume that these guys are not in the cheery sunshine business. That being said, there are some melodic high points contained within eight track debut, ‘3,6,2,4’. They’re just wrapped in a package of brooding macabre that goes along with hailing from the ÜKs Witch County.
Opener ‘The Third Pillar’ immediately pulls in the attention with a sweeping grandiose sound akin to Borgir. An orchestral like sound creates an enveloping delivery that fills the speakers and enables the full weight of the band to be heard without any muddying of the mix. It also generates an energy that is continued throughout the album until the fade out of album closer ‘The Lost Compass’. The effect is generated through the layering of string pads for the intro that builds to incorporate the full output of the band instrumentation with the mix given a helping boost of reverb. It fits the genre that Ghosts of Atlantis are part of and serves to provide a big introductory statement.
Using the first track as a springboard, the rest of ‘3,6,2,4’ unfolds. ‘Halls of Lemuria’ and ‘False Prophet’ both pick up on the instrumental and melodic cues from the introduction and build further. Offering more hooks and riffs that draw in the sonic interest while combining some punishing rhythmic sections as the drums and bass align to anchor the song delivery. The vocals use a good mix of cleans and gutturals with vocal harmonies blended into the chorus sections which serve to open out the tight black metal delivery and when combined with the melodic hooks creates a sound that will certainly captivate a live audience.
There is a complexity within the song writing and structure of the music on offer and for a debut album it offers a lot to entertain and interest different people. While there are the obvious elements of melodic black metal present which inevitably draws comparison with other bands of the genre. The way Ghosts of Atlantis have blended together the various techniques in terms of structure and instrument delivery enables the album to stand apart. Tracks such as ‘The Curse of Man’ and ‘Athena’s Garden’ with its acoustic breakdown which shifts the dynamics of the track to a new course, offer up a rich delivery that keeps the album momentum engagement. As well as this, they are part of a unique identifying sound that Ghosts of Atlantis have successfully created with this debut.
Lyrically, the band have gone down the route of mythology, specifically that of ancient Greece and Atlantis. Hardly surprising when reading the track listing and given the band name. However, the way the lyrical content has been approached is another positive tick for the album. Myths and legends can often fall one of two ways, the bombastic and stupendous or the plain ridiculous. Interestingly, Ghosts of Atlantis have forged a new path and by mixing the musical elements of melodic black metal have given the lyrics an edge of operatic tragedy. The macabre sorrow is ever present yet the vocal delivery provides the subject matter a weighty punch that successfully navigates away from the ridiculous and matches it with the instrumental delivery.
It’s certainly an exciting album for the start of the year and will generate a lot of interest for the newly established band. Time will tell if they will successfully join the pantheon of the more recognised extreme UK metal bands but this is an impressive introduction that should force people to take notice. As for the meaning behind the album title, that is something that the band have said is up to the audience to decipher.
- ‘3,6,2,4’ is released on 26 March. You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/GhostsOfAtlantisofficial
- All content © Über Rock. Not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of Über Rock.