By: Ashley Parrish Otteman
Photo by: J Donovan Malley
“It’s time to party, it’s time to thrash, it’s time to burn this f**cking world to ash.” — lyrics from “Shotgun Gulch.”
Hailing from the shadowy and mysterious Creepsylvania, Ghoul has carved a niche for themselves in the metal scene with their horror-infused narratives set against a unique backdrop of thrash, death metal, and grindcore. Since their emergence in the early 2000s, this band of mysterious masked mutants has built a cult following with their lore-rich concept albums, theatrical live performances, and the anonymity of their members, who go by the names Cremator, Digestor, Dissector, and Fermentor.
Emerging from the foggy depths of their fictitious homeland, our beloved mutants have outdone themselves with their latest EP, "Noxious Concoctions." Released on February 2, 2024, this 18-minute and 27-second auditory journey is crammed with relentless energy and tunes that are as creepy as they are catchy. Ghoul continues their tradition of mixing thrash metal's fast riffs, death metal's depth, and grindcore's brutality into something that hits hard and fast in the exact right spot. Even with catchy melodies and hooks, they never lose that rough, underground feel. Listening to it, I can't stop smiling. It's like they've tapped into what makes my oddball heart tick.
"The Eyes of the Witch" delves into the story of "a wretched old hag cloistered in foulness, squalid, and covered in rags." The track is a masterpiece, occupying nearly half of the EP's runtime, and I'm not mad about it. It's a blend of thrashy riffs and a hauntingly catchy melody.
The pace intensifies with "Noxious Concoctions," the title track that accelerates the EP’s energy with its rapid-fire riffs and bizarre lyrics, inviting listeners to delve deeper into the cryptic world.
"Shotgun Gulch," an apocalyptic party anthem, quickly emerged as my personal favorite. It’s full of terrible life advice but excellent musicianship, reminding us all that we're just here for a good time, not a long time, and that sometimes—it’s alright to laugh at funerals.
"Ratlicker" leads us down the twisted, grotesque alleys of Creepsylvania, where we encounter the epitome of filth: a voyeur, drenched in grease, swarmed by flies, and as revolting as one can imagine. This track plunges you deep into the deranged universe Ghoul has ingeniously conjured up.
Concluding with "1-900-DTH-LINE," the EP takes a twisted turn, fusing dark humor with infectious rhythms to create a morbidly amusing narrative about unconventional love. To truly savor the brilliance tucked within, a slightly warped sense of humor is essential—if that's you, then hello, you're precisely my kind of human.
Ghoul's instrumental skills shine across this EP, with each track displaying a meticulous balance of aggressive drumming, intricate guitar riffs, dynamic vocals, and overall cohesion.
“Noxious Concoctions” shows the evolution from their previous works, like “Splatterthrash” and “Dungeon Bastards,” highlighting their growth while retaining the core elements that have endeared them to fans worldwide.
In conclusion, “Noxious Concoctions” isn't just another killer album to blast until the neighbors complain; it's your invitation into a world teeming with snarling monsters, mad scientists, and unspeakable horrors—wrapped up in a soundtrack that's equal parts viciousness and genius wit. Ghoul has indeed concocted a noxious brew of tracks that solidify their unique spot in the metal universe.
See you in the circle pit!
