Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee comes the sophomore release of Ghost Gore titled Death Transfixion. This release showcases their combination of intense brutality and highly skilled technicality that blows many others out of the water. To be quite honest, typically death metal acts with a horror movie aesthetic I always write off as gimmicky and simple minded, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I heard and truly found my self hooked onto every track.
With the sound of a film reel rolling and the blasting of drums, its a sure sign for the theatrics that are packed into this album. From chunky guitar riffs to bestial guttural vocals, this band is stacked with some truly talented musicians. The production is crisp as well, a nice bite and raw edge that makes the bass stand out and stand toe to toe along side the grinding guitars. Firas Allateef simply kills it on the bass on this release. I feel like the eleventh track Black Lung, the bass melds so well with the guitars in a way that really pushes the instrumentation to the next level. So many times does the bass get lost in the mix on releases like these, but not here. The vocals, provided by Henry Bartel are simply punishing. Somewhere falling in between Cannibal Corpse and Mortician, the deep gutturals I feel like really help drive that old school horror movie aesthetic. Like the bestial killer in those movies decided to start a death metal band, retelling their gruesome tales of gore and sinful pleasures.
The album as a whole really does feel like a soundtrack to a movie. The way each track sort of blends into one another in a rather seamless way makes it even better, with each track painting a different bloody scene. Even with tracks like Hacksaw and Drilling Spree, with their sub-one minute run times feel like these whole complete tracks as opposed to just some snippet. Especially as how follow each track is are samples from what I could assume are old horror movies. The little production moments all through out the album makes it so much more fun and enjoyable with organs and synths to again, push that old horror movie atmosphere.
This sophomore release stands as a testament to Ghost Gore’s evolution, showcasing their unyielding talent and boundless creativity. With Death Transfixion, they seamlessly blend the ferocity of their old-school influences with a fresh, captivating approach, resulting in an auditory cataclysm that will leave true death metal enthusiasts clamoring for more. Brace yourself and surrender to the gruesome allure of Ghost Gore, for their music is a gateway to a realm of primal horror and unrelenting brutality that will consume you whole.