Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Ghost B.C. Infestissumam Company: Loma Vista Records/Republic Records Release: 2013 Genre: Reviewer: ChaosLord

Eerie, enchanting and amazing

Ghost B.C. is actually the band formerly known as simply Ghost. The name change came about due to another band owning the name of Ghost in the States so the band tacked on the B.C. to allow them to avoid any copyright infringements. Now to the review.

"Infestissumam" (which means 'most hostile' in Latin) is the sophomore album from this group and offers a new sound and new direction for the band. For those not familiar with this group, their sound is an amalgam of King Diamond, Blue Oyster Cult and other various influences. The new album is eerie, enchanting and amazing. This is a broadening of horizons for the band. Where in the first release, "Opus Eponymous", the band was more reliant on guitars and riffs, "Infestissumam" adds the element of keyboards and really allows them to be the focal point, using the guitars as more of a background instrument. That's not to say that the guitars are completely absent from the album, they are still ever present but the keyboards definitely play a more up-front role on this album. Songs like "Secular Haze", "Ghuleh/Zombie Queen" and "Idolatrine" allow the keyboard to work to its eerie perfection, adding depth and an element of the occult to said songs.

This album would be what I would imagine could be the soundtrack for a modern day Black Mass. It's no secret the band uses Satan as an inspiration for their song material. The song "Year Zero" has the Hail Satan built into the chorus and the song actually begins with an eerie choral chanting of different names for the Dark Lord. Even with the lyrics focusing on death, Satan and all things evil, the music really seems quite upbeat at times and gives the album a real sense of duality. The band has definitely changed their songwriting and musical style and this change is most evident in the song "Ghuleh/Zombie Queen". This song is a keyboard heavy, trippy story about a zombie queen. I know, I know, way to state the obvious ChaosLord. Anyhow, this song shows the change with the structure of the music and the almost upbeat musical tempo of the song.

Overall while this album is quite a departure from the band's debut, this album is phenomenal in its own right. From beginning to end, it has a feel that you are about to summon Lucifer in hopes of doing your bidding. Each song pulls you closer to the darkness until it overtakes you and makes you it's slave. If this album is any indication for the future of this band, they are definitely going to prove the haters wrong that they were just a fluke. So go forth and prepare to become Legion!!