Review: Ghostfeeder – 'World Fameless'

GHOSTFEEDER
'World Fameless'
DISTORTION PRODUCTIONS

Marking the label and full-length début of Ghostfeeder is 'World Fameless' released on Distortion Productions. After three self-released EPs and a further label EP on Beyond Therapy Records, Derek Walborn's project Ghostfeeder takes its blend of dance synths, 8-bit garnishes, and rock guitars through eight tracks of catchy and sing-a-long friendly synthrock that recalls the likes of NIN, Peter Gabriel, IAMX, Nintendo, Sneaker Pimps, The Birthday Massacre, and Mindless Self Indulgence.

Kicking things off with the title track the album quickly establishes it's sonic formula of old-school sounding dance synths, hard guitars, well-timed chiptune textures and big catchy vocal melodies which is reflected in songs such as Juliet, Sucker For The Chemistry, Let The Wolves Inside, and The Vampire Youth, in particular. It is a great pop album – vocally making use of pop-punk style hooks over its retro-chic synths and holding the guitars back for extra muscle – but it could be so much more.

There is room for Walbor to really push the boundaries of his sound and take risks with instrumentals, or less linear song-writing to add a bit more depth to the album without effecting its commercial appeal. Instead we have a singular vision with a definitive destination in mind, but no interesting detours.

For fans of Mindless Self Indulgence and The Birthday Massacre in particular this will be a very easy album to get into. It's quirky, fun and very pop without being mainstream. 'World Fameless' is a strong album. The song-writing is great, the production is top-shelf and the songs are ridiculously infectious with their dance-friendly construction and sing-a-long vocals. However it feels as though something is being held back, like Walborn has more up his sleeve but has decided to save it for something else. 

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Review: Ghostfeeder - 'Hard Times For Dreamers'

GHOSTFEEDER 

'Hard Times For Dreamers' 

SELF RELEASED 

Although a band's list of influences should be just that, many people read them to get a hint of what a new band might be like. Rather than a "we sound just like these guys" they should be a 'if you like them you'll probably like us'. New York four piece Ghostfeeder credit their influences, among others, as NIN, IAMX and Mindless Self-Indulgence - a promising if slightly misleading list, but not necessarily disappointing once expectations have been adjusted.

Their third EP 'Hard Times For Dreamers' is a mix of guitars and electronic synths - the kind popular with industrial rock bands rather than ebm or goth acts. Derek Walborn's classic American rock vocals make the overall sound like Linkin Park - if Linkin Park took out all the crap bits and weren't quite so self-indulgent. There's no fake screaming, (or rapping for that matter, thankfully) and the digital additions are familiar enough to be accessible but not 'industrial rock by numbers'. The lyrics aren't of the usual immature and introspective 'why does everybody hate me?' variety either. The title track is about how difficult it can be trying to create new things in this world. Similarly 'Get Sick Of Me' is about the repetitive and sell-out nature of popular culture. The other two tracks on the EP, 'Just Like That' and 'I'm Right Here', focus on a personal relationship, the physical and emotional sides respectively. 

All the tracks are well produced and the band clearly know how to market themselves. Some might see that as a downside, and along with the more mainstream sound some might be put off. Chris Corner (IAMX) is editing their next video which won't hurt their credibility any though. If Ghostfeeder can stay on the right side of commercial - appealing to the masses who have taste rather than selling out for the big bucks to whatever sounds good that month - Walborn and his boys could become a very popular band.

Listen to 'Hard Times For Dreamers'

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