By Phil Cooper
Originally released in March of 2017, ‘Ghostlands – Wounds from a Bleeding Earth’ gets the re-issue treatment via Black Lodge. ‘Ghostlands…’ represented the first full length for the band and has earned them a wide fanbase as well as many positive reviews. The reasoning for the reissue is that the band have now got themselves established and have updated their logo and image. Therefore, they’ve felt that their debut album should be brought into line with the more recent release of ‘Nattarvet’. It’s due to be available on vinyl including a special green vinyl release as well as CD all accompanied with updated artwork.
For those already familiar with this album, there is no actual content change. Both track list and production are the same as the initial release. Due to this, a digital download will not offer anything new for those who already have the album. It will be the physical release that will present more to pre-existing fans. If anything, that is the only negative point to be found with this album. For newcomers, a truly excellent record awaits.
From the atmospheric opening of ‘Gjallarhornet’ right through the twelve tracks to album closer ‘To Worship’, ‘Ghostlands…’ pulls the listener in and remains engaging throughout. It is easy to understand how the album earned so much praise upon its initial release. The musicianship on display is of a high standard and the song writing couples with this enabling the tracks to grab attention. The music on offer differs slightly from the standard forms of Black Metal in that the raw edges of production have been rounded out enabling for the thicker texture of the layered instruments to be more of a focal point. This in turn lends more weight to the compositions and adds to the emotional elements portrayed by the vocals.
This is still very much on the Black Metal spectrum though as the intensity and aggression of tracks such as ‘Under Hennes Vingslag’, ‘What We Lost in The Mist’ and ‘The Boneless One’ will attest to. Wormwood are obviously driven by a raw power and they will push that full throttle with the techniques of rapid-fire riffs and powerful blast beats matched with guttural vocals. It is however, a compliment to their musicianship that they can also harness other elements in their delivery. Folk aspects play an important factor in this album found within ‘Silverdimmans Atersken’ and ‘Tidh Ok Odhe’. Equally, they’re not adverse to incorporating wide sweeping melodies that the full instrumentation can propel forward on the likes of ‘Godless Serenade’ and the truly brilliant ‘The Windmill’. It is no exaggeration to say that ‘Ghostlands – Wounds from a Bleeding Earth’ contains something for everyone.
The ebb and flow of the album between tracks allows for the incorporating of different musical elements of not just those found within black metal but other genres too. This in turn allows for the musical expression of the band to show through, in terms of both the story telling of the album but also what they are capable of on other recordings. There is an atmospheric overlay that is generated from the opening track that serves to tie the whole thing together while still allowing the space for each track to offer something new and consistently grab the attention of the listener. It’s an album that taps into another level and transports the listener to the emotive journey it describes. ‘Ghostlands…’ is a must for fans of black metal and for fans of extreme metal in general. For pre-existing fans this release offers the chance of a new physical copy with additional artwork which is great for any collector. For everyone else, this is now on your radar and you should check it out.
- ‘Ghostlands – Wounds from a Bleeding Earth’ is re-released on 28 February. You can get your copy HERE.
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