Ghost Inside, The - Rise From the Ashes: Live at the Shrine (2021)Release ID: 51486
Almost 4 years after The Ghost Inside's horrific tour bus crash, the band made their return from the void with a comeback show on July 13, 2019. The concert was recorded for this live album that was released two years later in 2021, with a physical release another 6 months after. Now let's witness the phoenix rise!
The audience knows a lot of the band's lyrics and are there to accompany vocalist Jonathan Vigil as the band perform, and right from the "Intro", they're already fully prepared and anticipating a fantastic show coming up as they chant "TGI! TGI! TGI! TGI!..." Then Vigil enters the stage and greets "Good evening, everyone", and starts a speech thanking the crowd and introducing the band members before concluding, "Now the phoenix begins its rise."
"Avalanche" has some of the most blazing fire in modern metalcore, already showing that its original album Dear Youth is a solid step up from Get What You Give, and the band would stay in that path for their self-titled comeback album. Then "Unspoken" has well-done gang vocals. "The Great Unknown" is another hard-hitter with driving instrumentation. Only the strong will survive! "Dear Youth (Day 52)" is a mega mood-fitting song for me to love, with some similarities to Crystal Lake, especially the vocals. From the 2-and-a-half-minute-mark onward is an epic breakdown until the end.
The melodic yet drilling riffing of "Out of Control" fits well with more of those inspirational lyrics for the defiant hardcore kids. It segues to the kick-A crusher "Outlive" in which Jonathan Vigil's vicious yells travel alongside the riffing and drumming. Its original album marked the entrance of their current drummer Andrew Tkaczyk, formerly of For the Fallen Dreams. His intense drumming talent really stands out in that track and the more melodic ones later on, even after losing his leg. "Greater Distance" unleashes more aggression. It's all good until the generic breakdown midway through. Although I like breakdowns as much as the next metalcore fan, there's not much different variation, and it ends up breaking the momentum. As for "Between the Lines", I love those brilliant lyrics in that highlight. "Where have the words gone?!" Then "Phoenix Flame" takes the atmospheric direction much further as the band's first ever slow string-filled metalcore ballad. Still we have defiant lines like "It’s a long fall from the top, can you stand it?"
There's more melodic guitarwork in "Thirty Three", though a bit tiring at this point. "Mercy" is an intense highlight paying homage to Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in both the atmospheric bell intro and Vigil's subsequent bellow of "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS!!!" Then "Shiner" breaks through the hardcore fire of Comeback Kid with a more metallic spin. "Dark Horse" has awesome cleans and the best chorus here. To be honest, that's what was missing from the band's first two albums that could've made them successful. Those cleans have improved the formula with more variation. Although I enjoy many metalcore albums with only unclean vocals. You gotta thank producer Jeremy McKinnon (frontman of A Day to Remember) for giving The Ghost Inside that clean aspect. "The Other Half" once again has a unique mix of heaviness and ambience.
A lot of what they should've had in their debut is in the next one "Chrono" which I enjoy. "Move Me" continues the scream-along lyrics with a more philosophical theme. The melodic guitarwork continues in "White Light". Then "Faith or Forgiveness" is a memorable highlight and probably the best moment of their comeback show. "Engine 45" almost surpasses that, ending the show as the kind of song you need for any crisis you struggle with. This band is clearly having more fame and glory now. Let us have the bravery to choose our actions, break these chains, and keep swinging!
So to summarize this amazing live experience, most of the songs chosen for the setlist in Rise From the Ashes: Live at the Shrine are some of the best highlights from their first 4 albums. There are really only a couple duds, pretty much all the other songs are golden inspirational anthems. The band really knew how to make their return in full-on modern metalcore grace. Rise From the Ashes is for anyone wanting to hear The Ghost Inside for the first time!
Favorites (two per studio album): "Avalanche", "Dear Youth (Day 52)", "Between the Lines", "Shiner", "Dark Horse", "Chrono", "Faith or Forgiveness", "Engine 45"
