GHØSTKID - 'FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT' Album Review

6 hours ago

5 min read

Tracklist:

THE END
IVORY
MOTHER DEATH
I DESTROYED YOU
FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT
PURPLE SNAKES
GIVE YOUR KIDS A GUN TO PLAY
NEON (feat. Maz Univerze)
UNCONDITIONALLY
LOVELY
WHITE RAINBOW

Track 1 - THE END

Opening an album with a tape recording of a man, seemingly at the end of his tether. The very compelling, eerie and dark monologue really helps you to sink into the zone and sets you up for what’s to come on the rest of the record. It’s a nice touch of artistry and showcases the creativity of the artist to make a more immersive experience for the listener.

Track 2 - IVORY

The track 'IVORY' starts with a ticking clock, akin to the ticking metronome in Alice In Wonderland which ties nicely into the album title “FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT”. There’s a really nice atmospheric synth beneath the verses that keep you locked in between the devastatingly heavy guitar chords. In the short, but impactful, chorus there’s a subtle and effective lead guitar giving the chorus the lift and as we head out into one of the chunkiest riffs I’ve heard in a minute, we’re giving a quick slice of 8-bit synth to transition. If that riff doesn’t give you ‘riff face’, I’d be very surprised. This track is a really strong set up for the rest of the album, it seems to have pieces of everything I love - heavy guitar riffs, big clean vocals and tasteful synth and it leaves me keen to continue.

Track 3 - MOTHER DEATH

'MOTHER DEATH' instantly comes in with a different energy, almost as if mania has kicked in. Running straight in with some scream vocals, the energy makes ‘IVORY’ seem mellow. With a nice mix of vocal styles and pushing drums, it really shows his range and his ability to convey the emotions he’s intending to - screams, cleans, even whispers. To me, this track feels like the spawn of Alice in Chains, Marylin Manson and Rob Zombie combined, it’s heavy, catchy and ready to kick you in the face.

Track 4 - I DESTROYED YOU

'I DESTROYED YOU' is the first track on the album which seems to lean most into the modern metalcore style that’s popular at the moment. With a vibe that reminds me of a blend of Catch Your Breath, PRESIDENT and Bad Omens, it portrays the emotional realisation in the lyrics well with a notable intensity to tie into the anguish, but also the catchiness of it which acts like the mental reminder for the protagonist in the lyrics: this is my fault, “I destroyed you.”

Track 5 - FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT

The title track of the album, ‘FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT’, feels like a tipping point in the album as the protagonist falls over the edge. The energy in the song is visceral, manic and aggressive with the cadence of the lyrics feeling rhythmic in a way that gets you headbanging. Plenty of phat guitar riffs and fast-paced drum fills make the track feel shorter than it actually is which only makes you want to replay it.

Track 6 - PURPLE SNAKES

The track which follows the mania of ‘FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT’ is ‘PURPLE SNAKES’ and it offers a drastic tone change, offering more of a melodic energy. Still riddled with the heavy, industrial, tones in the guitar, synth and drums, this song acts as someone of a reprieve from the intensity of the previous track whilst still having the ability to make you want to move your body. It’s nice to get a track where the focus is slightly shifted from visceral energy to emotional.

Track 7 - GIVE YOUR KIDS A GUN TO PLAY

Something that this album has done so far is keep each song interesting and has offered a different energy from the next, ‘GIVE YOUR KIDS A GUN TO PLAY’ is no different. This song has a distinct European feel to the synth at times, feeling similar to the synth heard in GHØSTKID’s previous projects, but the song overall has a distinctly darker and more treacherous tone. This song is much less reliant on a hook and more on energy, but that doesn’t mean the chorus falls short - the chorus offers a good amount of lift in the energy to the almost creepy tones in some of the verses. Eventually leading into a heavy breakdown to close the song, this is another song that feels shorter than it is and had me hitting replay.

Track 8 - NEON

On the track ‘NEON’ GHØSTKID continues to impress as this song draws in, proving that they’re a master of their craft and have a notable ability to blend genres. Slowing everything right down, this moody track has some trap beats beneath the rapped verses which are lifted into thick and heavy guitars on the chorus. The accompaniment of Maz Univerze on the track is subtle and well received, playing into the songs almost totally different texture than the rest of the album. I think a lot of artists can fall into the trap of all the songs being quite similar as there’s one thing they do well, or the title track runs the show, but this album continues to have different offerings and really builds the story running throughout the album.

Track 9 - UNCONDITIONALLY

UNCONDITIONALLY’ is a song that I feel leans the most towards modern Metalcore, with some moody verses, riff-led, rhythmic guitars and melodic choruses, greeted by a heavy break in the middle, this song will likely become a heartfelt favourite deepcut from the album. I can see this song being as much of a mosh-pit starter as it is a fan sing-a-long moment and being the longest track on the album, there’s so many places that the song takes the listener and it really gives the opportunity to step inside it.

Track 10 - LOVELY

As I listen through these last songs on the album, there’s certainly a more reflective tone to them as opposed to the anguished and angry narrative that built up at the start. From the calmer energy, to the pining lyrics, we’re sitting in the seat of a person who’s not ready to let go and is only wishing they could be better. There are some really nice guitar tones in this track, giving more atmosphere than riffy-goodness this time around and it works really well alongside the subtle synths running throughout the track.

Track 11 - WHITE RAINBOW

‘WHITE RAINBOW’ is an epic track to close the album with; more atmosphere, more trap beats and another soaring chorus to drive the point home that the protagonist is completely wiped out by events. The lyric ‘I’m nothing, just nothing, when life’s turning away from me’ helps to flesh out the meaning of the title ‘WHITE RAINBOW’ - no matter how he’s trying to shine, he still feels empty and blank; colourless. It’s a heavy outro and, when following along with the narrative of the album, you almost wanted the protagonist to end up okay, yet this song leaves things a little hopeless in the story. Zooming out, the song is emotional, relatable and will speak to the souls of many listeners.

Overall, this album is fantastic - no two songs are the same and the intention behind each track is clear. It’s a feat for any artist to create an entire album, but to craft an album that tells a story, explores and blends genres and keeps you hooked all the way through is another thing entirely and I think GHØSTKID has done a pretty damn good job of this; I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time listening, and listening with intention, and I will be keeping an eye out for any tour dates.