Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Ghost Inside - "Get What You Give" Review




Los Angeles-based hardcore band The Ghost Inside released their third album, Get What You Give, a little over a month ago and is so good that we couldn't help but write a review. The 11-track collection packs a punch and is well worth a listen.

All 11 songs were written by frontman Jonathan Vigil.

1. This Is What I Know About Sacrifice
2. Outlive
3. Engine 45
4. Slipping Away
5. The Great Unknown
6. Dark Horse
7. White Light
8. Thirty Three
9. Face Value
10. Deceiver
11. Test the Limits

The release, which is the first for the group under Epitaph Records, is their best to date in my opinion. The Ghost Inside's first two albums, Fury and the Fallen Ones and Returners, were released under Mediaskare Records. The five-member outfit seems to have found their place on Get What You Give, and the album is solid throughout. 

Get What You Give kicks off with the tremendous 1:29 "This Is What I Know About Sacrifice," a killer track that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album and should only be listened to at full volume. It's one of those songs that is remarkably easy to repeat three or four times in a row, just because you don't want the raging to stop. 

Vigil, like so many of his peers in hardcore music, is an emotional writer who likes to fall back on the same subjects throughout albums/songs. Get What You Give is no different, but Vigil manages to vary his lyrics enough to keep his songs from getting the stale feeling that some artists fall victim to. The majority of songs on Get What You Give are about overcoming struggle and continuing to forge ahead; it is a message that all can benefit from hearing and fits the genre extremely well. Vigil has said several times that he has had to overcome a number of hardships to ascend to where he is now, and it is clear through his lyrics on Get What You Give that he and his bandmates forged ahead and are extremely grateful for the position that they are in now. 

"Engine 45" is about overcoming addiction, something that Vigil says everyone can relate to in some way or another. When it comes down to it, that's the crux of Get What You Give: easily relatable songs that you can't help but turn up, head-bang to and play more than once. You can view TGI's music video to "Engine 45" below.

I was lucky enough to catch The Ghost Inside on the Vans Warped Tour this year, and I can say with absolute certainty that the band puts on one of the best live shows that I have ever seen. It was easy to catch Vigil smiling mid song throughout the band's set, overjoyed at the fact that hundreds of kids were in front of him jumping around and yelling lyrics that he wrote. The band played a good mix of songs from all three of their albums, and those from Get What You Give stood out for sure. 

I give Get What You Give a 4.8/5. It is a must-download in my opinion. You can get it on iTunes.

The Ghost Inside will be main support for Miss May I on the AP Tour this fall, for which the dates have yet to be announced.


"Engine 45" Music Video



- Ben

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