Tribe of Ghosts have been on my radar for some time since they formed in 2022. I knew we were in for good things since being a fan of Adam’s previous project King Leviathan.
TOG have been gradually taking Brighton by storm and now the UK metal scene, landing some seriously big support slots (Imperial Triumphant, Forlorn), as well as huge festivals such as Bloodstock. That’s no surprise as their music is bold, fresh, brutal metal that packs a punch and delivers a beautiful blend of death, pop and electronica.
Their latest offering HIVE is a relentless four minutes of clever guitar riffage, aggressive drum patterns and tearing synths all fighting each other for space.
After an incredibly intense intro that feels like the start of a DMT trip, Beccy Blaker’s vocals come searing in majestically, followed closely by Adam Sedgwick’s echoing death growls. It’s an excellent contrast that is the signature sound of Tribe of Ghosts and sets them apart from other bands.
There is so much going on it’s overwhelming, and definitely makes you want to dive in again and unpick the layers on more listens. I love the synth and guitars battling against each other in between the verses, such an intense effect.
When the chorus (is it a chorus?) finally kicks in at 1.44 with
“we’re only drones, marching to the drum”
there is more clarity and emotion that comes through, with Blaker showcasing her powerful vocal tones, belting out across the syncopated guitar riffs. Glorious stuff.
According to the band their music is a dystopian soundtrack inspired by fiction such as 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, and in their own words they describe their sound:
“When we were writing ‘Hive’, we felt that we were at a point where we understood our sound and what we wanted to create. With this in mind, we wanted to craft a song that sets the scene of the world that we build with our music, that explores the electronic and the organic, and declares our intent of giving into the chaos that oozes out of us on stage and in the writing process.”
HIVE is an excellent place to start and I believe the band has more music coming very soon. Follow Tribe of Ghosts on the following places: