GHOST MACHINE
I should probably apologize to GHOST MACHINE guitarist John Stevens
before I kick off this review; you see, this CD has been sitting on my
desk for MONTHS, and I am finally getting around to reviewing it. I
guess the only saving grace is that it's just about a month before this
disc (which was independently released previously) gets released via
Corporate Punishment Records.
From the ashes of MOTOGRATER, rises an equally unique, but (in my
opinion) superior in it's musicianship, band of gloomy bastards, who
can write some catchy, more melodic songs. The strongest track on
Ghost Machine
is without question "Headstone", and I know I'm right about that,
because that's the song that is getting the airplay. Ivan's vocals are
haunting, and reminiscient of Peter Steel's erie drone. While some of
the tracks would be better suited for a long warm bath accompanied by a
quart of vodka and a bottle of Xanax, Ghost Machine really shines on
the more upbeat tracks. "Siesta Loca" starts off like the soundtrack
like a suicide, but heads in a very TOOL-ish direction, and "Burning
Bridges" is a more mellow, acoustic change of pace from skull-stomping
riffage.
It's a great release from a group of guys who hopefully will be around for a while. Sorry the review took so long, Stevens.
