Track Review: “Corroded Gold” by Tribe Of Ghosts

“Corroded Gold is the isolated inner monologue captured at the moment when you discover that someone you’ve idolised to the point that they are a part of your core identity is unveiled as a monster. You ricochet between rage, despair and an above all desperation to claw any remnants of this person out of you before you are infected.” ~ Beccy Blaker, vocals

You may not have realized it but over the past couple of months Brighton Industrial Post-Metal collective Tribe Of Ghosts have waterfall released a quartet of singles in “Forever Falling Upwards“, “Nerve“, “Scald” and now “Corroded Gold” that comprise an EP dubbed “Open Wounds“. As the band put it, each one of those has been a depiction of feelings of desperation and need for connection built on brutal introspection. Produced, recorded and mixed by their guitarist and vocalist Adam Sedgwick also of Noiseboy fame and mastered by Paul Winstanley (Grim Ravine, Haken, Novena), each piece of the puzzle has been something of a monster, stitching together Sludge Metal riffs, industrial electronica and lush pop inspired choruses. So where do the band who survived Summer Bash, Bloodstock and Rabidfest turn for the final chapter of the burnt offering?

Whats interesting about this moment of unhinged madness from Tribe Of Ghosts is that it stands apart from the three aforementioned singles because while it has at its center a beating black heart that pushes and pulls you with the emotive qualities of the narrative, it also feels purposefully less claustrophobic than it could have been. “Corroded Gold” actually feels like it was recorded live in the studio in one take as a full band, something which comes from the way in which it flows, like a teardrop to the floor during a therapy session. A song about a violently decomposing infatuation, it’s brought to life with electronics that have a similar buzz to them as those found in “Alien” era Northlane while the guitars offer a some serious Sludge Metal weight and gravity. Once again Beccy Blaker’s clean vocal parts are stunning, delicate and captivating, capturing silky smooth pop infused textures in the vein of Free Dominguez from 2000’s Industrial Metal act Kidneytheives. She provides a sing-a-long chorus in stark contrast to the corrosive harsh parts of this angry anthem of violent anguish from guitarist Adam Sedgwick which burn like battery acid. Burning in the flames of emotional intelligence, the duo purge in pure catharsis as the vocals intertwine at points with great use of layering. A thunderous mid section with an imposing breakdown section of violent turbulence is followed by a real gut punch moment in the final third as both vocalists scream “purge you out!” before a well worked false ending. As a band Tribe Of Ghosts have long held the ability to conjure something intoxicating and often have audiences swaying like marionettes to their sounds at live shows. Here with “Corroded Gold” the band have captured that energy and committed it to tape, playing to their strengths in devastating fashion [8.5/10]