Great American Ghost followed up their 2020 album ‘Power From Terror’ with ‘Tragedy of The Commons’, one of the first major releases in what promises to be a huge year for music. With the single ‘Ann Arbor (Be Safe)’ from their second album ‘Hatred Stems From The Seed’ amassing nearly 1.7 million listens, you’ve likely heard at least one track from these New Hampshire heavyweights. Despite having been around for about ten years, they’re still considered an upcoming band, but with their first release on the well-known label Sharptone Records they’re finally getting the attention they deserve.
‘Kerosene’ kicks things off as the single that stands out the most from the rest, bringing a more industrial sound, most notably in the drums. The guitar in the pre-breakdown is also a standout moment, along with the almost chant-like chorus. ‘Echoes of War’ delivers the first huge chorus, much like the singles, with a strong pre-chorus line from guitarist Grayson: “You’ll never wear the crown.” In the final minute, there’s a noticeable shift in guitar tone that adds a fresh dynamic to the track.
With a slower start, ‘Lost in The Outline’ might not be the strongest of the singles, but it makes more sense within the album’s context. One particularly interesting moment in this track is the second-to-last chorus, where spoken word overlays a clean guitar tone, building up to the final chorus. The next track, ‘Ghost in Flesh’, starts off at breakneck speed, with rapid-fire verses balanced by a more restrained chorus. Grayson brings a unique touch to the second chorus, and both he and Niko deliver some tasteful guitar tones throughout. A notable highlight is the lyrical reference to the album title, as well as a direct nod to ‘Lost in The Outline’ with the line: “Empty after all.”
Grayson takes centre stage on ‘Writhe’, featuring the most vocals from him on the entire album. With a sound reminiscent of Miss May I, this is one of the most distinct tracks on the record, yet it still fits seamlessly within the album’s overall tone. At just under three minutes, ‘Genocide’ is the shortest track on the album and whilst a good track, unfortunately, doesn’t add much to the overall experience.
The first single of the album cycle, ‘Forsaken’, features a massive, anthemic chorus tailor-made for live shows. This track is packed with nostalgia, featuring the still-relevant lyric “Chaos Reigns”, complemented by distant guitars and well-placed blast beats. The strongest of the singles, ‘Hymn Of Decay’, showcases a diverse range of vocal styles, particularly in its call-and-response dynamic between clean and screamed vocals. This balance of melody and aggression makes for an incredibly headbang-worthy chorus. Like ‘Lost in The Outline’, this track also includes a spoken-word version of the chorus, but with a rawer, more old-school feel.
The strongest of the non-singles, ‘Chapel Paralysis’, is honestly surprising that it wasn’t released as a single. It puts a modern twist on the album’s sound, and it’s easy to imagine this track becoming a fan favourite and making its way onto plenty of playlists. As one of the messier tracks on the album, it stands out, particularly with the alternating vocals between Grayson and Ethan, a welcome touch. ‘Reality//Relapse’ has a similar feel to ‘Genocide’ but with a much fuller sound. However, it misses an opportunity for a massive breakdown after a significant build-up near the end. While ‘God Is A Loaded Gun’ is a solid closing track, ‘Writhe’ would have made for a more fitting finale. The final few notes of ‘God Is a Loaded Gun’ are also a bit unusual and could have been left out.
With everything said and done, ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ is a strong album that could very well be an early contender for Album of the Year. Despite a few flaws, the whole experience will leave you wanting more - this is an album that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
‘Tragedy of The Commons' will be released on January 31st via Sharptone Records.
Words: Lucas Grayson
Photo: Dominique D'Costa
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