The Ghost Inside - Returners [2010] [320kbps]

Perfect. That’s pretty much all I can say about The Ghost Inside’s second full length album, Returners. Calling Los Angeles their home, this incredible five piece is truly talented beyond belief. The only exposure I’ve had to these guys is vocalist Jonathan Vigil’s guest vocals on Hundredth’s When Will We Surrender. And although I really enjoyed that album, I didn’t expect anything amazing from Returners; but let me tell you, amazing is exactly what I got! This album has everything you could ask for; not only from a record, but also from a band. These guys deliver melodic hardcore that’s so catchy, you’ll find yourself singing along even when you don’t know the words.

Torrent:
The Ghost Inside - Returners [2010] [320kbps]

Tracklist:

01. Walk Away From The World
02. Greater Distance
03. Between The Lines
04. Unspoken
05. Overlooked
06. Chrono
07. The Conflict
08. Downbeat
09. The Returner
10. Through the Cracks
11. Truth and Temper

According to Vigil, Returners is a concept album based on his experience from being on the road and “returning” to important places and people in his life, only to find out that they’ve changed. Vigil states that “no matter how naive [he wants] to be about it, we live in an ever changing world and as much as [he wishes] things could stay ideal forever, its human evolution.” I found it to be a very interesting and bold idea for an album.

From the first track (which is an instrumental), “Walk Away From The World”, to the last, “Truth and Temper”, Returners is full of chunky riffs, loads of bottom end, and KC’s god-like drumming. Lead axe swingers Aaron Brooks and Zach Johnson are both incredibly talented musicians that really deserve time in the genre’s limelight. Their scorching chugging (Hatebreed style) is just plain ridiculous, combining lightning fast riffs and totally deadly breakdowns. Every track on the album delivers devastation, and flows together well to create an awesome combination of gut punches.

Worth noting is the fact that Matt Bruso (ex-Bury Your Dead) contributes guest vocals in “Chrono”. The concept of the song itself is about how we spend the first part of our lives wanting it to speed up, only to spend the rest of our lives wanting it to slow down.

On the production side of things, there isn’t much else I can say other than everything is top notch in all aspects. In my opinion, production can either make or break a band, and this album doesn’t disappoint.

Although The Ghost Inside might not be true trendsetters in terms of doing something that’s never been done before, Returners is an album that has enough going for it that it should be remembered years from now. If you’re into good melodies and big chunky grooves, then this album is definitely for you.