Here's some background: Hola Ghost started as a duo in 2007,
creating the soundtrack for the American horror comedy movie Cannibal
Flesh Riot! by Academy Award winner Gris Grimly. The band was
formed by Peter Sandorff (ex-Nekromantix) on vocals and guitar, Jeppe B. Jessen
on bass, and the haunted drum machine Ghost 707. Later, drummer Kristian
Sandorff (ex-Nekromantix) took over drum duties, skillfully replacing the
machine's haunted beats. The band has since evolved, adding a horn section,
"The Haunted Horns," to their live and recording crew.
Chupacabra, Hate & Fight are two previously released EPs bundled into one LP with two
bonus tracks and one new track, "Iron Reich." It is available via
Svart Records in three exclusive vinyl editions: magenta, solid magenta/black
splatter, and classic black. All this will be packaged with a printed inner
sleeve containing lyrics and a collage of rare and previously unreleased
photos. There'll also be a limited CD edition of this fantastic compilation
album.
Side A opens with the explosive "Chupacabra" (a
mythical creature from Mexican folklore). The guitar sounds fuzzy, with effects
starting with a definite Spanish flavor (which you will often hear along with
the horns, which have the same cultural sounds). It is a fantastic opener that
gets those juices flowing to rock out more, and you will. Peter Sandorff has a
unique vocal style that you can recognize, separating him from all the others.
And that is a good thing. This is my favorite track; I can't get enough of it.
"Mexico" starts with the haunted horns (ala Herb
Alpert and the TJB), then a slick guitar comes in nice and slow, and then boom!
It explodes into a wave of sound. They are very adept at playing this way and
constantly keep you on your toes in anticipation. The guitar playing is fast
from the electric six-string with some acoustic lines added. Here, you cannot
miss their Mexican death metal moniker. A few surf runs are also added; they
run up and down the neck of the guitar like a round from a live machine gun.
Then, another super-fast surf segment takes hold with an extended instrumental
break and good guitar work with solid bass and drums. All of this makes for a
very entertaining toe-tapping rocker.
"Soldadera" is heavy metal initially, but then it
reverts to surf guitar lead (which is very cool; I love it). The bass and drums
are tight and hold steady. What you will hear is an excellent instrumental. The
horns add another mystique to their sound, as the only words they sing are
"Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro" (1-2-3-4). The rapid picking is in the
glissando style, which relates to the surf intro music.
"Copenhagen Gringo” (By the way, that is where they are
from) is a country-tinged track with catchy rhythms and a step away from all
the previous tracks, but very good.
Side B opens with a rousing manner with "Hate." They
sing, "Hate, follow Me." This dark but energetic tune has a
super-spirited bottom end pounding away. Typically, some fine guitar work
populates the track with an exciting merging of many sounds towards the end
when it all reaches a boil, then slows down with those contagious horns from
hell assisted by a melodic bass line and guitar that leads you into a
mesmerizing instrumental run and they sing "To love and let die."
This was the segue from the previous track and an exciting twist that you must
pay attention to while listening.
"Fight" is a good follow-up. The band plays, and the
vocal screams out, "Hate! Fight! Ghost Brothers! Come on and join the
fight." This one is rockin' at warp speed. The vocals are outstanding, as
unusual as they may sound to some people. It may be that way at first, but with
that rough edge, it's ideally suited to their music, and you will appreciate it
quickly. Just listen, and you will see what I mean.
"Funeral March" is a slow burner with acoustic guitar
and horns for that perfect recipe and atmosphere of death and a feeling that
you are watching this happen in Mexico. An extended instrumental run plays
before the wind blows for more effect.
Then "The Bottom of the Well" begins, another favorite
of mine. A steady guitar and bass come in, then it changes to more electric
sounds with a surfy reverb. The drums crash, it gets better with the horns
added (it always does), and it continues to build and build. It is a masterwork
of sound and atmosphere.
"Iron Reich" is their latest effort (which will be
followed by a new album, and I hope soon). It is a dark and bold track with
edgy music to get the lyrics over more effectively. The song's title and
lyrics, along with the tone of the vocals, make it all believable. This is
fierce music with many changes and great vocals that project the visual they
are trying to create for you. The guitar provides a lot of effects to get you
there.
Hola Ghost is anything but one-dimensional. They are as eclectic
as any band I have heard this year. They are not your typical power trio, and
you will realize that once the first track starts to play, each successive
track throws more curveballs at you. It's all good, and I am so excited that
Svart Records introduced me to them. I can't wait to see what they come up with
on their next album. The anticipation is real.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR
Reviews Founder
September 11, 2024
Tracks:
Side A:
A1. Chupacabra
A2. Mexico
A3. Soldadera
A4. Copenhagen Gringo
A5. Old Barn
Side B:
B1. Hate
B2. To love and let die
B3. Fight
B4. Funeral March
B5. The Bottom of the Well
B6. Iron Reich
