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When I first heard Anatomy Of A Ghost, I was pretty skeptical of their credibility, as they sound remarkably similar to Coheed And Cambria. Everything from the off-kilter, oddly-timed guitar riffs to the high-pitched crooning of vocalist John and backing screams bares a striking resemblance to those of Coheed And Cambria. But, upon some additional, more attentive listens, Anatomy Of A Ghost's own ideas and general musical ability really begins to shine through. "Evanesce," while having been previously released on Rise Records, could have been slightly more focused, but serves as an excellent debut; one that will place Anatomy Of A Ghost on the map and in many isteners' stereo.
Had I heard Anatomy Of A Ghost a little more than a year ago, the band's hardcore-laced progressive rock style (or, maybe more commonly known as emo-core, screamo, post-hardcore) would most-likely have taken me by surprise. But, over the past year, more technical, indie rock bands have appeared in my collection, causing Anatomy Of A Ghost's "Evanesce" to feel slightly less unique. Luckily, though, I don't hear any guitar parts or vocal hooks that were ripped off, and what the band writes is quite memorable. The vocals stand out as the most prominent aspect of Anatomy Of A Ghost's music, with three of the band's five members contributing their own unique voices. Lead vocalist John steals the show, of course, with his easily-recognizable voice, which combines the uncontrolled passion of Daryl from Glassjaw and the strange, high-pitched sound of Coheed and Cambria's Claudio. Backing screams and singing are smoothly layered into the mix, giving the music a bit more depth and a more grim feeling.
Anatomy Of A Ghost's song structures are quite unpredictable and dynamic. Drifting from part to part over short periods of time, some of the songs are somewhat difficult to follow and recall at a later time, but in general, the band succeeds in making the transitions sound natural. The guitars stop and start time and time again, swiftly switch from delicate strumming and picking to distorted riffing, and have a swirling sound to them, which really enhances the overall feeling of the music. Generally, the band focuses more on melodic, softer passages, but it is definitely during the explosive, energetic portions that the band is at their prime. Songs like "Beauty Is In The Embrace," with its chugging guitar introduction and surprisingly heavy breakdown, are much more enthralling than the other songs on the disc. That's not to say the remaining songs are bad by any means, but the more aggressive moments are, for the most part, the more memorable portions of "Evanesce."
While Anatomy Of A Ghost sound quite similar to their genre's counterparts, there is plenty of raw talent and interesting music to be found on "Evanesce." Finding the band drifting into more aggressive territory would be pleasant news, but the music they have created thus far is nothing to be ignored. If it suits your taste, "Evanesce" will be completely satisfying. As for me, I'm interested, and I hope to hear some more focused, aggressive music from this band in the future.
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