Review
SHADOWS CHASING GHOSTS – LESSONS
Released 9th July 2012 (Small Town Records)
Words: Charlie Wallis
There’s a new wave of alternative bands hailing from the UK like the ultra scene friendly Yashin and the hook laden The First. Shadows Chasing Ghosts really strike you as one of those bands. On the vet precipice of making it really big but just haven’t quite managed to make that next step into widespread success. With the release of their latest album “Lessons” Shadows Chasing Ghosts seem to be aiming to demonstrate a great deal of development from their freshman offering “The Golden Ratio” which, while good, suffered from an over reliance on repeated songwriting techniques.
With “Lessons” Shadows Chasing Ghosts have come a long way in their growth into a band that could be seated with the main contenders of the UK alternative scene. The album starts off as something of a juggernaut of riffs and screamed vocals with blistering opening track Splinter. The album continues into an extremely solid effort with the standout track being the first single Lose the Attitude. Some of the tracks take a couple of listens to really stick in the head but all tracks are competent (except the chorus of The Hunter which smacks slightly of lazy writing). The times I really like Shadows Chasing Ghosts on this album is where they break away from their sometimes formulaic sound into relatively unexplored territory for them. Tracks like The Lighthouse demonstrate a new depth for Shadows Chasing Ghosts and it’s something that will doubtless appeal to their young fan base who may lack age, but by no means lack fervour.
All in all this is something of a sterling effort for a band looking to increase their fan base and show that they’re not just another in a sea of pretty average alternative bands in the UK today. “Lessons”, while by no means perfect, gives a taste of the direction that Shadows Chasing Ghosts are heading and if “Lessons” is anything to go by, the destination will appeal to a lot of people.
