GosT — Possessor
Dark and low, the tone of Possessor matches the subject matter very well. Setting the scene with samples, "Possessor" is a solid intro into the darkness that follows. "Garruth" then opens the door to GosT's intriguing blend of synths and heavy metal. Proving good ol Bruce Dickinson wrong, one CAN play heavy metal with synthesizers. Not a full on metal track, but rather a wonderful mix of metal and dance, "Garruth" is an excellent preview of what's to come. With the dancier end flowing into and continuing with "The Prowler" and "Sigil," GosT settles back into familiar territory. However, the 80's horror movie tones that permeate keep the listener on edge. This is combined with sung vocals ("Sigil") and feels like a wonderful, lost gem from a B-movie slasher. Menacing and somewhat spacey, "Loudas Deceit" feels like the music blasting at a skeletal break dance party, and brings the tone to a fevered enough pitch that the ensuing metal on "Beliar" makes perfect sense. Like an inside out version of a black metal band, this synth forward track blasts the listener before returning to its groovy, electronic routes. Heavily distorted guitars become the next to be mimicked on "Legion." Pained screams bring this mid-paced, metal jam into reality, and the lines between electronica and metal blur even further. GosT's comfort level with mixing these genres is evident on the propulsive dance numbers "16 AM" and "Shiloh's Lament." Reminiscent of the boiler chase scene in A Nightmare on Elm Street, there is grimness mixed with upbeat excitement. GosT returns with his sung vocals on the traditional "Malum." Capping off the album, "Commandment" once again dips into the well of grinding fury and menace, mixes it with dance, and gets the listener to swap between air "guitaring" and doing the robot.
Answering the unasked question, "what if Dataclast hosted a dance party," GosT's Possessor blends fun, grooving synthwave with blasting metal. Definitely coming a long way from the previously reviewed Behemoth, GosT's progression is inspiring, and shows his skill at composing interesting and cohesive synthwave albums. Fun to have on repeat, and an excellent soundtrack to a Halloween party, Possessor is definitely worth picking up.