We Came for the Dead!!!

Ghoul, hailing out of the [sometimes not so] mighty US of A, are a four-piece band that have infused in their songs influences drawn from multiple genres; be it death metal, thrash metal, or grindcore. If that alone isn’t enough to convince you to BUY THIS ALBUM or any of their other albums, as they have yet to disappoint me or their other fans, then fine, I’ll further disclose to you why this album is worth getting. As I said, they draw influences from multiple genres. Many of the riffs found on this album contain a strong crossover thrash influence, and it works out blissfully. Add in a touch of grindcore and a pinch of death metal, and you’ve got yourself a fine mix in the works, kids.

From the slightly overlong (but still awesome) intro of Graveyard Mosh/Ghoul to the crushing headbanging goodness that comes after, this album will keep you entertained the whole way through. I’m not even kidding, nearly every single riff on this album is headbang-guaranteed. The very first riff on this album, albeit being a freakin’ incredible yet simple one, doesn’t serve as a fair prelude to what you will hear upon further listening of the album. Sure, it gives you a small peek at what you’re about to get yourself into, but there are so many varied riffs and styles on here that you really don’t know what you’re getting into.

People often tend to have qualms in regards to the production on many albums, and oftentimes it lowers their opinion on the album somewhat. In my opinion, the production of a certain album is the least important facet of it, and unless you cannot hear anything AT ALL, I'll [probably] have no problems with it; and this album is no exception to the rule. It is perfect, especially for the death/thrash style that Ghoul carry.

The guitars on the album are fantastic. There isn’t one bad riff (or song, for that matter) on the entire record. Every riff gets your veins pumping and your head drilling, and many of them are catchy as hell. As done as well on Mondo Medicale (Ghoul and Impaled share members, if you didn’t already know), the guitars are perfectly executed and the songwriting is great. All of the transitions in the album are exceptionally smooth. One example where this is especially manifest is in the song “From Death to Dust,” around the middle of the song, when the mosh-riff blasts and blows your fucking head off. Listen to it. Now.

Everything else on the album is above-average and as well deserves to be praised. Otherwise, I don’t think I have anything else to say about this record. Go out and get it now.

-SmithMetal84
Originally written for http://ravenousreviewswebzine.blogspot.com/