Where most electronicore is essentially metalcore with some synths tacked on for good measure,
Ghost Town offer up a refreshing take on the genre, reversing the formula on their sophomore album,
After Party. With a sound that's mostly informed by pop, EDM, and dubstep, the band's heavy breakdowns and screamed vocals feel more thought out and deliberate, gaining maximum impact whenever they appear. In a way,
After Party feels more like a new take on sounds like industrial metal that pulled metal's guitars and drums kicking and screaming into the modern age and replaced them with ominous synths and cold, programmed beats. With its growling synths and fractured production, the intro to "W.F.F." feels menacing and nocturnal, showing that they're capable of evoking the same emotions as metal while using a radically different toolkit. Despite its eerie, horror movie atmosphere, which is definitely played up on songs like "You're So Creepy" (which also appeared on their debut,
Party in the Graveyard) and "Hocus Pocus," the album has a surprising pop sensibility. This is especially true with the vocal work of singer
Kev Ghost, who could easily be transplanted into a more traditional pop act without much fuss, and who gives
Ghost Town's music a human element that makes it warmer than one would typically expect from electronic music. For fans of
Ghost Town's previous album,
After Party continues to deliver the goods, offering up catchy hooks and danceable beats with just enough aggression sprinkled in to make the album feel dark and slightly dangerous. ~ Gregory Heaney