From their humble beginnings in Brighton The Ghost Of A Thousand (shortened to TGOAT) have worked hard to combine the hardcore mixed with punk spirit that their label in Epitaph have started since the mid eighties.
Their first album managed to gain The Ghost Of A Thousand a cult following amongst the UK hardcore scene and a high place in the Kerrang Albums of the year list for 2007 and secured the signing to Epitaph last year also achieving a milestone in being the first UK band to sign for that label!
This album brings back the style of Refused through the guitars of Jag Jago, the drums of his brother Memby all combined with the screaming vocals of Tom Lacey and the DIY ethic that post hardcore brings.
The DIY ethic however at to the casual listener can be construed as messy to possible noise however when you listen to the record a bit more deeply there are glimpses of a rock and roll attitude established as a more heavier MC5 particularly on the song ‘Split The Atom’.
The constant style shifts on songs such as Canyons Of Static also bring to mind At The Drive In and Million Dead tendencies which is a refreshing change from some of the punk bands you see sticking to formulas.
If there’s some form of justice the record should garner Ghost Of A Thousand more fans in the post-hardcore genre and with songs such as ‘Nobody Likes A Hero’ a chance to get bigger.
A good second album showing an evolution in Ghost Of A Thousand’s writing and music.