In their debut EP, Catacouture (February 5th), ghostbells bypasses the usual awkward growing pains of a new project in favour of a polished and shadowy elegance. There is a specific kind of magnetism in how the band stitches together the driving mechanical heart of nineties EBM with the frostier melodies of classic new wave.
The way the band layers thick basslines under witchy vocal performances that drift through the mix like smoke in a crowded room is not only sharp but calculated. The experience begins with the steady and hypnotic pull of “Darkness Saves”, a track that functions as a gateway into a world where surrender is the only logical response to a heavy and rhythmic gravity.
This sense of intentional movement continues into the newer textures of “The Color”, where the band manages to balance a certain melodic brightness against a backdrop of industrial grit, by showing a versatility that keeps one anchored even as the tempos shift. While “Ghosts” and “Wrath” lean into the sharper edges of their influences, there is a consistent undercurrent of romantic melancholy that prevents the harder electronic elements from feeling cold or disconnected from the human experience.
Much of the strength comes from the way ghostbells treat the darkness not as a costume, but as a natural habitat, allowing songs like “Cry4Her” and “Immortal Lovers” to unfold with a sincerity that feels earned through those two years of quiet preparation. It is rare to see an act step onto the stage with such a complete visual and sonic identity already in place, yet this EP suggests a band that has already mastered the art of building a specific mood and sustaining it without falling into repetition.
Catacouture is a collection that moves with a predator’s grace through the neon-slicked alleyways of the modern club scene and by the time the final notes of “The Color” fade away, it is clear that ghostbells isn’t interested in chasing fleeting trends. They are choosing instead to craft a debut that honours the history of the dance floor while firmly planting its feet in the present.
See ghostbells live
Direct Support for Ashbury Heights in the UK
Feb 4: York, UK @ Fulford Arms
Feb 5: Glasgow, UK @ Ivory Blacks
Feb 6: Manchester, UK @ Rebellion
Feb 7: London, UK @ The Dome
Feb 8: Bristol, UK @ Exchange
May 7: Berlin, Germany @ Out of Line “The Weekender” Festival
June 12: Portland, OR @ The Coffin Club
June 13: Seattle, WA @ Central Saloon
Aug 23: Manchester, UK @ Infest Festival
Nov 14: Miami, FL @ Las Rosas
EDITOR’S NOTE: artist stylises their name, album, and/or songs, in lowercase or uppercase letters
