Deflecting Ghosts don’t just release music. They exorcise demons. It’s with their latest single, “Broken,” that they’ve taken their first fullband shot as the solidified Hutchinson, Kansas trio of Luke Fitzgerald, his wife Rhema on bass and drummer Austin. It comes out as a masterclass in emotionally charged alternative rock/metal, that hits with visceral intensity and stays with haunting vulnerability.
“Broken” does an amazing job of taking you through the harrowing point of denial to self realization, particularly with the weight of addiction and inner turmoil. The song isn’t just about being broken, it is broken and in its very structure and its very delivery, it is threaded through with that raw shattering experience. The listen begins deceptively, with wonderfully recorded, jangly, intricate guitar work. The way that Luke Fitzgerald’s vocals sound here is really raw and almost ethereal melancholy, the perfect setup on top of a warm bass foundation and measured rhythms.
After that the dam breaks. The band hurls immense groove and aggression in the form of a colossal slab of heavily distorted harmonious guitar noise. But within this sonic blizzard, Fitzgerald’s voice is the anchor and it’s soulful, powerful and oozes with raw honesty. The fluidity he adopts from flowing melodic passages to subtly abrasive body rattling tones are reflective of his lyrical journey into painful reckoning. In addition to singing the pain, his voice lives the pain, commanding attention and taking the listener through the emotional maelstrom.
The musicianship is superb… Luke’s guitars trade off creating a dense tapestry of riffs and melodies. Rhema’s basslines are always more than support — they rattle with heft, clarity, crucial groove and bind aggression to the rhythm section. The dynamic foundation is Austin’s drumming which is precise, powerful and self notably tasty, always providing underpinning to the transitions from delicate introspection into cathartic release with impeccable timing.
Each aspect – the meticulously complex guitars, the booming bass, the distinct drums, the numerous vocals – has its own specific area and sound better than anything, producing a rich, deep and terribly strong mix. A sure fire modern alternative rock and metal masterpiece, “broken” expertly blends crushing extreme guitar heavy riffs, with beautifully melodic yet subtle undercurrents.
It is more than just an excellent song and ‘Broken’ is a cathartic statement of survival. It’s a beautifully powerful testament to how the band has evolved and has stayed true to its sound, always. This ain’t rock music: It’s a raw nerve transposed to a incredibly powerful and beautiful riff. Essential listening.
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