Maverick Metalcore veterans from Chicago Speaking With Ghosts launch their third effort entitled “Into The Grey” featuring heavy-hitting single “Left For Dead.” Including crisp guitar tones, remarkable vocals, thunderous bass, pounding drumwork, and overall superb composition/ production. This is a group that has made it clear that they can only get better and better with time.
"Into the grey is a state of mind, it’s a numbness. When everything fades from mind, and you just are. The Ep lyrically was a collection of struggles that our innermost circle was experiencing at the time. Our band has always been one to write about hardships to show just how much one person can overcome. It’s our way of continuing our message of shine light and inspire." -SWG
Single track “Left For Dead” opens the album with a tantalizing “Lo-Fi” riff that carries through to the following verse with crushing weight. While utilizing one of the more melodic choruses from the album, SWG still manages to incorporate signature pulverizingly heavy verses and breakdowns in this track.
Without losing intensity, “Dark Mark” slowly emerges as brutalizing vocals lead up to a pounding verse that all follows suit to a catchy and mainly “unclean” vocal chorus. This track doesn’t hold any exceptions, as we follow the fierceness through to one of the heavier breakdowns of the album. And appropriately enough, the song ends the same way it begins.
Title track “Into The Grey” opens with full force and feet on the ground with a unique
harmonic riff that seamlessly transitions into a heavily melodic chorus. Arguably, being one of the more melodic tracks on the whole album, Ryan truly allows himself to shine with this track with both unclean and clean vocals and intense instrumental backing to push the weight of the overall theme of the track.
We feel a sense of nostalgia with track number 4, “Winter”, as they take to their roots with this classic SWG feeling track. The listener can feel the emotion straight from Ryan’s harrowing chorus opening line “Nothing seems to go my way.” Quick pummeling syncopation between guitar, bass and drum ride the track out from the chorus. After impressive concussive work, the track drops the cadence for a moment to breath. Being the first real “break” of the album thus far. We recap on the turmoil and raw emotion that previously followed. We are left wondering what’s next?
The album comes to ambient halt as (Hallowed) takes us for an instrumental ride. Synth rides out along with an easy going drum pattern all while the track slowly comes to a sudden drop. Opening the way for the last two hitters of the album...
“Burn it to the ground, burn it to the ground, burn it to the ground. Burn it down, let's start again!” The pace restores with track 6 “Writing on the Walls” as the song ultimately runs headfirst into a chaos. Vocally, the listener can sense the feeling of longing or searching for a path. We are let into the world of SWG a little more clearly with the raw intensity brought from this emotional track. Lyrically, we sense that the group as a whole took to their hearts with this piece.
To close things out, “The Other Side” begins with the lines “Take me straight to the ending, I can't escape the feeling. I'm all alone, I'm all alone. Here's to wishing we were younger, back when we were stronger. Each passing day, it gets harder.” It becomes clear that “Into The Grey” is an album of struggling, indirection, loss, and sentiment. As a particularly emotional piece of the record, things appropriately shine clearly for the listener. But, we aren’t let off the hook as the intensity returns for one last brutalizing verse. Then, with a final hard hitting bridge, the record concludes.
A band that truly never ceases to impress. Take Melody, emotion, aggression, catharsis, add classic Chicago spirit, and you’ll have Speaking With Ghosts.
Speaking With Ghosts is:
Ryan Wilmot (Vocals)
Tyler Baskin (Guitar)
Craig Hoffman (Guitar)
Pat Olson (Vocals/Bass)
Bryce Tollner (Drums)
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