You may have read Scott Vogel's recent piece on what's changed in hardcore over the last ten years. However you might feel about the scene it has changed significantly since, especially since American Nightmare hit listeners. And speaking as a person who grew up with a lot of the early 2000s sound and advent of the Deathwish Inc. label (love it or hate it), the feeling of the genre seems to have shed much of its old skin that it was trying to keep from flaking off since the 80s. And it's bands like Great American Ghost that make me reconsider a lot of the modern worship.
Say what you will about the politics of the scene, albeit straight edge, hardline, vegan, focuses on politics or general violence, there have been a lot of genres that spawned from its recklessness. Though in the last few years its felt more like hardcore has taken notes from other genres more heavily, and oft become, well heavier. Great Ameican Ghost take plenty of this to great length with Everyone Leaves. For the hesitant worried that it's just another heavy album, there is an older school vibe in this brought modern.
Hardcore as a scene has long since moved on from a summary of its parts to a summary of the self. The focus on introspection has been a long standing trend amongst the players and listeners. Some pen loose metaphors, sometimes trying to weave a story of hopelessly compressed metaphors that are needlessly abstract and metaphysical. Others shut the fuck up and are as direct as possible. Great American Ghost got no problem saying: “Fuck you you fucking motherfucker,” as loud as possible. Everyone Leaves is, lyrically, a harrowing, caustic piece of hatred both inner and outer. If contemplations of suicide (“Dead Punks”), slinging middle fingers (“An Ever Changing Cast of Characters”) or the miserable dredges (“Misery”) in life just don't float your boat, then you may as well walk away from this review and hit some porn.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOvedBB5VPI[/youtube]
Lyrically, I could go on for a long time about the band, as hardcore does pride itself on its message. However, what makes this record so stand out, what makes it so good from the others in the scene, is that Great American Ghost are simply kick ass song writers. “Runner” may feel like its weening you in with something slower, like the band is going to take it easy on you. No. There's nothing easy about this record. Once the vocals kick on it's like the window between listener and writer has shattered. It's a moody introduction with heavy bass lead and guitar section. Does it feel modern? Hell yeah it does. So where does the old school vibe come in?
Great American Ghost are recorded to sound heavy and like they're taking a boot party to their pent up frustration. The old school vibes are there though. Its in the progression of chords. While not present for every song, pieces like the aforementioned “Dead Punks” or “Decay” have the jump and punch simplicity that hardcore has built itself around. But that's not to say the band doesn't take some notes from metal. There are plenty of breakdowns laden throughout that will bring the mosh and a moodiness throughout that simply cannot be shaken.
You may have heard the phase: it's not what you say but rather how you say it. Great American Ghost are very much that idiom. Both lyrically and instrumentally the band hit all the right notes even when they believe themselves wrong whether for this reason or that. The honesty in the lyrics is beyond refreshing and certainly preferential on a person to person basis. But that's what Everyone Leaves is: extremely personal. Always hateful. Always pissed. Those that have a love for Lewd Acts Black Eye Blues or any of the American Nightmare records will find something to love here. Everyone can leave but Great American Ghost are welcome to stay.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKBTiXmkVG0[/youtube]
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