With this latest offering, Ghost is out to prove that they aren't just another flash in the pan amongst the myriad of stoner/psychedelic/70s-fused bands emerging from Sweden recently.

Most fans of Opus Eponymous(2010) might just write Ghost off their list of faves as the catchy vibe and cheesy musical references to past great bands are less obvious here. With more focus in place for melodic arrangement of vocals, keyboard parts as well as deeper songwriting.

Infestissumam, while still maintaining the unique with tracks like Secular Haze, Year Zero and the surprisingly beautiful, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, it still serves adequate fanfare through tracks such as Per Aspera Ad Inferi, Body and Blood and Monstrance Clock.

Tracklist:

1. Infestissumam
2. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
3. Secular Haze
4. Jigolo Har Megiddo
5. Ghuleh/Zombie Queen
6. Year Zero
7. Body and Blood
8. Idolatrine
9. Depth of Satan's Eyes
10. Monstrance Clock

A personal favourite would be Ghuleh/Zombie Queen and it would serve as the ultimate epitome of Infestissumam stylistically. It begins with a ballad infused piano intro and a cooing Papa Emeritus that stretches for a solid 3 minutes. As weird as that maybe, it's new, it's surprising and it shows depth in Ghost as a songwriting entity. They're not here to satisfy your need for a refresher of the greats in the 70s, they're here to tell you how it would sound like to be a great band from the 70s.

Clocking in at 7 and a half minutes, the song gets a tempo boost near the middle and that is where the real fun starts. With a signature chorus hook that pulls you to sing along and worship openly, tremolo doused guitar lines that weaves a nice thread through the instrumental fabric and the cheesy, scooby-snacked keyboard accompaniment that is just uniquely Ghost. Ghuleh/Zombie Queen is definitely a must to listen to.
Infestissumam might be abit more of a grower than a shocker in comparison to Opus but that's the root of the scrutiny that this album faces. That being the pressure of doing a repetition of what they have done before and being continuously judged based on a great debut. Bands evolve over time and with this album, Ghost's evolution proves that they can do much more than what most would expect.

All in all, as enjoyable as the album is, it is not all power and praise as Idolatrine and Depth of Satan's Eyes feels a tad contrived and lacks the sinful attraction of prior tracks. It is, however, saved by the inclusion of closing track, Monstrance Clock, which is another intense ending to a chapter in Ghost's sermon.

Writer's fave: Year Zero, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, Body and Blood, Monstrance Clock

5 out of 7 sins

Pros: Refreshing direction, catchiness intact, deeper songwriting, better production quality
Cons: Too many mid to slow-tempo songs, weaker tracks feels too disjointed

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to mix the erratic juxtaposed noise of early Nine Inch Nails with the abrasive angst of Ministry? And on top of that trickle a fancy touch of prog sensibility?

HEALTER SKELTER is a great stand-out track on Blackjazz, mainly due to the hypnotic saxophone intro intertwining with the fuzzy bassline and sporadic drums. It sounds as though 70s prog got pissed off and went on an all-out rampage. With the absence of vocals, HEALTER SKELTER is definitely highlights Shining's instrumental prowess.

I have nothing but praise for this band, but as much as I enjoy Blackjazz, I would have preferred if they've made longer filler tracks (Exit Sun Pt. 2 and The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 2) just so it would display a different facade on an already technically amazing band and provide a breather in between all the aural assault.

Writer's Fave: HEALTER SKELTER, Exit Sun Pt. 1, The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 1/2

6 out of 7 sins

p.s: I know the album was released 3 years ago, but I've only found about them this year and had the strongest overwhelming urge to just review the album. so just enjoy reading it and check them out if you haven't. and if you have, good for you. there's more to come.

Tracklist:

1. Swerve City

2. Romantic Dreams

3. Leathers

4. Poltergeist

5. Entombed

6. Graphic Nature

7. Tempest

8. Gauze

9. Rosemary

10. Goon Squad

11. What Happened To You?

Released: February 6, 2012

Label: A4D

1.    The Gravedigger's Song
2.    Bleeding Muddy Water
3.    Gray Goes Black
4.    St. Louis Elegy
5.    Riot in My House
6.    Ode to Sad Disco
7.    Phantasmagoria Blues
8.    Quiver Syndrome
9.    Harborview Hospital
10.  Leviathan
11.  Deep Black Vanishing Train
12.  Tiny Grain of Truth

Former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan returns after 2004's release Bubblegum. Once again teamed up with producer Alain Johannes,  Blues Funeral is another respected Blues Rock work of  art with Lanegan's distinctive baritone vocal collaboration with familiar artists such as Josh Homme and Greg Dulli. You might know him for his work with Queens of the Stone Age back in 2000's release of Rated R. His rough scratchy vocals beats the idea of every anti-smoking campaign and puts the attractiveness on this old man. He is one of those vocalist that you'll either love or hate. I don't think there is a chance for an in between.

The bass intro thumps into the first track and single, "The Gravedigger's Song" as a clear-cut Lanegan track similar to his previous works with the Queens of the Stone Age. A slightly mellower following track, "Bleeding Muddy Water", is not a lyrically complex song but musically, as a whole, this album does some justice. Lanegan's collaboration as a band with Greg Dulli in The Gutter Twins was one of the best work he did, and they're often back together doing a track or two. Dulli did a brief appearance on "St. Louis Elegy" and even though the collaboration was just a simple backup vocal, it would serve as the icing on the cake for me as it is for most fans. Much similar to "Riot in My House" which features former bandmate Josh Homme on guitars. Most people anticipates this moment be it with Homme's own band or Lanegan's.


Halfway through, the tracks start to get less organic as electronics begin to take form as the backbone to the tracks, especially for "Ode to Sad Disco". Lanegan has accomplished a new direction on electronics for the first time with this daring approach. The synthesizers and drum machines are still quite subtle as compared to the conventional instruments that he normally uses even though at times it gets brought out to the forefront in the music. "Tiny Grain of Truth" is another example of an Electronic track with a subtle addition of guitars.

The album is musically very appealing and a job well done for Lanegan. His vocals are one of the reasons why I would continue to listen to Mark Lanegan Band, but it is also because this guy knows how to put on an excellent performance despite the slow moody feel of his music.

Recommended tracks: "The Gravedigger's Song", "Riot in My House" & "Ode to Sad Disco".

5 out of 7 sins

Tracklist: