GUIDING GHOST

Guiding Ghost is probably my biggest surprise from 2022, a great new release by Ephemeral and their debut album. Their style is a great mix of modern blues rock mixed with classic symphonic prog, sometimes having a sound that reminds us of Porcupine Tree or Genesis.

The opener "Deep Blue" sets the tone well, starting with a strong rock-funk beat that leads to a more emotional finale, with a great guitar riff. "Lock'Em Out" is the most accessible track with a catchy chorus under some great arrangements and solos. "Ink Eyes" leds us closer to Genesis or Big Big Train territory being a short epic song with a lot of variations and moods, a very symphonic track. "Freddy" is short instrumental with some fantastic bass lines by Arianna and instrumentation from the rest of the band. "Into the Ether" is a little piano piece that serves as intro to the epic "Guiding Ghost", a two part epic that closes this fantastic albums with a nice variety of moods, great vocals and a very strong finale in old fashon of a classic symphonic prog epic.

Aside from great arrangements and instrumentation, the mixing is also very clear and tight, giving space to every instrument and letting the dynamics shine in the tracks.

9/10.