Perhaps for some, music is there only to entertain, but for most of the population, music mirrors the soul of its creator, their experiences, their lives, their untold stories, their darkest and deepest depths. But for artists like Finnegan Seeker Bell, the brain tank and the founder of the project LOVE GHOST, and the prolific Swedish producer and artist Skold, it is both, and their latest album, LOVE GHOST x SKOLD, proves just that. This project is a 13-track collection that is packed, and by packed it means it is loaded with great sound, amazing production, and heavy yet relatable lyrics infused in a blend of punk, grunge, alternative, and synth-driven vibes that collectively define the sound of LOVE GHOST. This sure is an interesting mix, and with songs having themes like the afterlife, war, politics, self, and witchcraft as their course, this sure will take the listeners for a great ride.
It opens with the first track, “Intro,” a haunting narration that sets the stage for the whole album, laced with dark synths that create a dark and eerie vibe that will instantly pull you in to listen for more. It is bold, and it showcases the confidence of this artist in his musicality, in that short time, the track instantly captures the whole mood of unease and anticipation that will go throughout the entire collection.
Following strongly is the track “Nightshade and Cocaine,” which perfectly reflects the complexity of an inner conflict happening in one’s mind. It’s like a haze, a great blend of synths and evocative vocals that sings lines like “I wanted to erase myself again” and gives you a certain level of anger and sadness throughout the track, which is exemplified by the explosive rock elements for the track.
“Great White Buffalo” comes in as something much darker of a track, yet because of the way the synths and piano notes work through your head, it becomes oddly comforting. This track is packed with gritty rap delivery lines along with some melodic and catchy vocals where guitar works and hard-hitting drums build up into a whole stellar performance questioning beliefs through lines like “What do you believe in? There’s no one there watching you.” This sure is a standout track because of its thought-provoking tendencies and great buildup of tension throughout the piece.
With “You Are the Gun,” this track is more on the somber side, which carries the heavy burden of having an internal conflict or a broken sense in a relationship. This is a stripped-down track that relies on minimalistic beats and synths, which perfectly suits the vibe of the track as it carries weight on its lyrical content. The saying “simplicity is power” goes perfectly with this track. There is a certain resignation felt in this track as the line “You are the gun to my head” is delivered, making it one of the most compelling and authentic lines in this collection.
The eerie focus now goes back to the track “Cemetery,” a track packed with electronic effects that will draw you into the much darker depths of this collection. Its eerie vibe perfectly captures the darkness seen by the person who struggles with their inner demons, a production that also depicts how music can be an escape in those times and how this track serves as a battle cry for those struggling. Continuing this with the track “Space Dust,” a piece that perfectly captures the whole concept of existential crisis as depicted in the lines “We are space dust lost in time, looking for something we will never find.” This track starts with calm and isolated vocals, which then build up into a chorus laced with soft synths and acoustic guitar notes, and by the end of the track, the sound expands into thrilling and booming sounds. This is a personal favorite – I think that this song perfectly captured the whole essence of the album, it starts with just darkness, and as it expands into a vast universe of sound, something just then exists. It is small, yet it’s there—it exists!
The album also features tracks like “The Star of the Show,” “The Heavy Weight,” “Payback,” “Hold On,” “Skimask,” and “Level Up,” which are also packed with LOVE GHOST and Skold’s signature sound, carrying a top-notch production that blends grunge, punk energy, synths, and electronic elements that you will surely be enjoying. On the other hand, “Less Than Zero” carries a gritty vibe with its potent anger hidden through the heavy synths that talk about the realities faced by this world amidst war. It is an intense track that matches the intensity of the lyrics that it carries displayed in the line “If I’m not dreaming, then I must be awake,” highlighting the fact that nightmares exist in the world of the living. It is a powerful track to end the whole collection, it is political and the way it was performed is unflinching – and we all loved that.
This album is an ultimate display of skills, talent, and experience brought by the clever vision and musicality of LOVE GHOST and Skold. Each track is a narrative, and collectively it speaks of something bigger, which is bold and most definitely interesting. Love Ghost X Skold is an album that you wouldn’t want to miss! Follow Love Ghost and Skold and their upcoming releases! Stream the album and experience this top-quality album firsthand!
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About the Author
Tine Quirino, also known as Kristine, is a writer (frustrated one), a dreamer (serial sleeper), an INFJ (also INTP/J), a (professional) fangirl, and a good listener (‘literally and figuratively,’ she states).
She is just here, lurking somewhere, enjoying all your music. Music of any kind is still music, after all.
