Saturday, December 5, 2015

The 2015 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #16

#16 -  Ghost Ship Octavius - Silence


Ghost Ship Octavius was one of those band names that I just couldn't pass on when I saw them on the list of new metal bands in 2015. The name is derived from an 18th century "ghost ship" that was doomed at sea; it's crew frozen below deck. As it turns out, the band are the brainchild of former Nevermore drummer Van Williams and God Forbid guitarist Matt Wicklund. When their respective bands called it quits, the boys came together and found a singer in newcomer Adōn Fanion, and kickstarted the hell out of a project that came together with a thundering self-titled effort. Fanion is able to work his way around the higher notes and help lay down crushing riffs with Wicklund, who shows no cease in churning out heavy riffs all over the album. It definitely isn't much of a mix of the two previous bands, but it does sound like the trio had been working together for years. The musicianship shown throughout the album is second to none, and it definitely falls as one of my favorite metal albums of the year. Other standout tracks include "In Dreams",  "Saturn and Skies", "Bloodcaster", and "Epitaph". 

But for me, the standout track is absolutely "Silence". The haunting piano intro is immediately blasted by a guitar riff that will break your neck clear off your shoulders, with Williams pummeling alongside throughout. The song is creepy and crushing and poetic, all wrapped together in one brilliant metal track. The future looks bright for GSO, and if they put out anything as delicious as this album, I will be all too pleased to rock the hell out of that disc, as well.









Title: Silence
Artist: Ghost Ship Octavius
Album: Ghost Ship Octavius





Previous 16s
2014: Winds of Plague - Say Hello To The Undertaker
2013: Colossus - Beacons
2012: Imagine Dragons - It's Time
2011: Amaranthe - Hunger
2010: Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish
2009: Chris Isaak - We Let Her Down

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