Ghouls – ‘Great Expectations’ EP

Ghouls – London, England, United Kingdom.

Some of our favourite Londoners are back with a new EP, and naturally we had to scribble something about it.

Musically Fresh discovered the band in one of the many groups our staff are involved in, to fish for bands and spread the word of those we feature. We first featured Ghouls back in August where we reviewed their debut full length. Said review can be found here and within it are the relevant links to download the FREE! FREE! FREE! album. Free.

If this is your initial discovery of Ghouls, here’s a few words to get you acquainted with the 5-piece.

Hailing from London, and playing their own spin on Punk Rock laden with hooks, clever lyrics and horns; Ghouls aren’t a fright, but a delight! (I apologise, that was awful.) Mixing in elements of Ska-Punk and Gypsy-Punk via their brass section, the band have produced an interesting, fun and engaging sound that, although sounding familiar and welcoming, is clearly so unique to them.

To put it bluntly, they further augment the healthy scene we have in the UK, in regard to Punk, its children and cousins. It’s our aim to get this to the people’s ears, and when Ghouls and one of their brassmen (Ben) contacted us asking for another fresh look, this time at their new EP, we stepped up because…

With great music, comes fresh responsibility.

Great Expectations:

1. Great Expectations – A very brief intro on the guitar, a few seconds of Gypsy-style gutiar notes for you to prepare yourself for what’s about to hit you. Limber up, wiggle your arms – do whatever you need to do. Because after 5 seconds we are thrown into a fast Punk tempo, led by Ghouls Gyspy influences once more. I was really glad to hear this track as the band pull off the flirtation with the aforementioned influences well.

Lyrically, track one seems somewhat of a recollection; a recollection of the toxicity of past relationships… We’ve all had them.

‘I’m sorry for being sorry, I never really mean’t it. Just didn’t want to argue, and all I ever do is worry about what might happen next. Ring me up to apologise, a question in disguise. Do I stay safe with the same reply? Tell the truth to tell a lie. It’s not logical, its psychological.’

^ You’re telling me! With the band’s talent at telling a tall tale, combined with their faster sections and the slower elements in the verses and choruses; not only is the context well purveyed, but track one is both a great opening composition and one of my favourites from the band’s recordings. Nice start there gents.

2. Nice To Know You – Another driven intro guides us into track two, unison in brass, guitar, bass and drums. What more could you ask for?

Again on the Punky side, the tempo from track one is maintained and sent forward with a classic bounce on the back of upbeat chugging guitars into the verses. Awkwardness, post-relationship or fling is always a pain the arse, but as Ghouls state, you have to move on, just because it was awkward doesn’t mean it wasn’t nice to know that person. Solid track.

3. Gone Fishing – Track three, the single.

The pace is stepped up once more. I love the intro to this song, it just works. No bullshit, just a great, fast and mood setting piece of music. Ghouls have a nack for raising spirits and the music and lyrics of this song are a testament to this ability. ‘Gone Fishing’ is both literally about fishing as much as it isn’t, a metaphor, yet not.

The message is conveyed by both a literal and personal example in an obvious yet also implied manner. To put it bluntly, this song is fantastic. An instance in the past may have seemed like you were wasting time, doing nothing, but once you have moved on, met others, lost touch with the people from those memories, you will see it for what it really was and now really is, time well spent.

4. Being Me –  Slowing things down for the final track and with good reason, we have ‘Being Me’.

Ghouls are battling with reality; the dreary explanations of life that you often get from those older than you; parents, extended family, from arbitrary meetings – whatever. Every one of us will be bombarded with this in our youth, many of us still for some time, but that doesn’t mean that you should give in. Track four is about doing exactly that.

Again using personal examples to give both a personal and general message, Ghouls get the message across in a simple and effective (rather than juvenile or banal) manner. You may not get to exactly where you want to, maybe only half way, but regardless – shit happens but what’s important is that you sit back and say to yourself, ‘I just wanna be me’. That’s what Ghouls are saying and good on them, they love what they do and they show no signs of throwing in the towel just yet.

If you’re into fun, well-written music that sits rather well on the Punk and Pop Punk spectrum and includes its own stamp, then you will like Ghouls. UK Talent at its finest.

Great Expectations, the new EP from London’s Ghouls. We love this band! The New EP gets a Fresh 8.5/10 – and a message to music fans: WATCH THIS SPACE!

Find the EP via:

Streaming On Deezer and Spotify.
Download on iTunes and bandcamp.
Physical Copies and Merch at the bands Gigs and from their bigcartel site.

Don’t forget to keep track of the band on Facebook and Twitter.

#StayFresh