Songs To Say Goodbye
A hitherto unknown, and somewhat shrouded in an air of mystery producer Gost( aka Baalberith) has been using his keen interest in 80’s horror and the occult to formulate a spine-tingling web of music destined to charm and alarm simultaneously. Introducing an outside edge by including Jaime Gomez (Paradise Lost, Myrkur) in the proceedings, he presents a more open aspect so we can see a little inside his world. His lyrics are quite dark but the music skips from the friendly synth beats to pounding drums and the vocals from a whisper to a scream and everything in between.
A mega vicious drum intro starts us off in ‘Relentless Passing’ then a little frisky keyboard reminiscent of Bauhaus guides us to a place where ‘ no one will hear our cries’, but we will hear the eldritch, wake the dead scream.
Enveloped in a Gothic splendour, the imagery and words are sinister and beautiful, and we find ourselves tugging at both ends of the rope, hoping not to lose either.
‘Wrapped In Wax ’offers a very Gary Numan feel, heavy keyboards, slightly slower pace but still effective, with a timely church bell midway, an eerie call from beyond the grave. It’s possible someone forgot to say goodbye…
Continuing in a similar fashion we have a little disco style beat with ‘Dreadfully Pious’ reminding me of those 80’s drama shows like ‘Automan’, fresh and exciting sitting comfortably next to the dark persuasion; shimmering, brilliant white against vantablack if you will. There is an instrumental piece called ‘The Call Of The Faithful(Faithless)’ where we get a moment to enjoy the music, which is in itself quite complex.
‘Ligature Marks’ – even the title is pre-emptive – as it forms images and thoughts in our psyche without having a chance to consider what is being said, although a read of the lyrics- ‘your inquisitive breath always on my neck’- will twist your demented mind just a little more. A stellar piece of work with a structurally sound industrial groove.
The music throughout is portentous, anticipatory, and experimental too, as the genre of ‘synthwave’ is somewhat nascent. The similarities can be drawn to nu-metal, and this will soon establish its rightful position.
This record has the potent mix of being abrasive and soothing at the same time, friend and foe, turning water into wine. Proffer your goblets for replenishment, an act of validating your valediction, consider it a ‘Severance’ and shut the door on your way out.
Gost – Valediction out now via Century Media Records