Love Ghost

“Fuck what they say, I make my own way” – snarls vocalist Finnegan Bell on “Let It All Burn,” the kick-ass, take-no-prisoners music video from Love Ghost.

Bell explains, “’Let It All Burn’ is how I see the world through my 18-year-old eyes. The hypocrisy and unwanted advice that weighed me down during senior year led to this song. My Dad being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer made me more determined.”

Produced by Danny Saber, whose resume includes the Rolling Stones, U2, David Bowie, and Marilyn Manson, the song is the latest from Los Angeles-based alt-rock outfit Love Ghost, comprising: Finnegan Bell (vocals, guitar), Ryan Stevens (bass, backing vocals), Samson Young (drums, backing vocals), Nicky Renard (lead guitar), and Cory Batchler (keyboards).

Young, brash, and mega-talented, Love Ghost has toured extensively, performing in Ireland, Japan, and Ecuador, along with collecting a number of awards. And they’ve shared the stage with Buckcherry, Smash Mouth, Berlin, The Young Dubliners, The Tubes, Fuel, and Irish singer-songwriter Mundy.

At the present juncture, the band is working on an album, also produced by Danny Saber, and have two new singles – “Dead Brother” and “I’ll Be Fine” – in the can ready for release in 2020. Having had the opportunity to listen to both tracks, all Rawckus can say is, “Ooh La La! These tracks are double-bing-bang-hellishly superb.”

Renard parades her nonpareil gift on her axe during the solo, where she cuts loose with visceral sepulchral licks, both gravitational and fulminating, like carborane superacid, infusing the tune with bravura caustic muscle.
“Let It All Burn” opens on a stridently actinic thrumming guitar segueing into a powerfully vibrating alt-rock melody flavored with industrial tinctures embellished with whiffs of punk potency. A pulsating bassline and Samson’s subtle yet muscular drumming furnish the driving rhythm, setting the stage for Bell’s skintight, almost venomous, vocals, as he vents his wrathful resentment at the world’s extant status quo.

Samson’s drumming warrants special attention, emphasizing rumbling rolling timbres rather than smashing cymbals, an effect revealing an innate comprehension of the concept of rhythm and what enhances the pressure and sound of the song as an integrated whole.

Renard parades her nonpareil gift on her axe during the solo, where she cuts loose with visceral sepulchral licks, both gravitational and fulminating, like carborane superacid, infusing the tune with bravura caustic muscle.

The video, directed by the renowned Dean Karr, captures the raw heat and energy of the music in the visuals, shot in a working foundry in South Gate, California. The quintessential image of the video is a guitar riding a conveyor belt toward a kiln.

There’s something cruelly superior about “Let It All Burn” and Love Ghost, a piercing edginess replete with vast primitive power. Love Ghost is a band to keep an eye on. - Rawckus

L.A. based rock band Love Ghost latest Let It All Burn chomps on post punk / pop tones but also stirs in elements of classic rock sounds and (dare I say) the chorus (to me) has a pushed rebel rock sound that feels like it could of been smack dab in the middle of a high school dance in the mid 70's. The sound is iconic in that respect and earworms deep in your brain but you feel the sort of surf punk, punk pop sounds of today as well. Think of a blender set to chop with artists like Loverboy, Blue Oyster Cult, Cosmonauts, The Orwells. Cool. - American Pancake

L.A. based rock band Love Ghost, are back with a brand new single entitled “Dead Brother” (release date January 24th) is the new single from L.A. based rock band Love Ghost. Progressing with each passing release, their previous single, “Let It All Burn” made the biggest impact of any of their singles, but this new one is loaded with enough impressive elements to surpass anything they have ever done. The single’s music clip (which was shot by Rob Zombie’s camera operator Hassan Abdul-Wahid, and directed by acclaimed horror actor Jeff Daniel Phillips) has already won Best Music Video awards at 3 international film festivals. The song’s theme deals with horror and psychological terror, painting an evil and ominous picture.

Anything but cheerful, “Dead Brother” ranges from the haunting basslines to the sinister vocal verses and threatening guitars. Slick, enigmatic and captivating, it’s a masterclass in songwriting and arrangement.

Finnegan Bell (guitar and lead vocals), Ryan Stevens (bass and background vocals), Samson Young (drums and background vocals), Nicky Renard (lead guitar) and Cory Batchler (keyboards), shows Love Ghost as a confident rock group.

Their chemistry is much better to the point that I wonder how much stronger they really can get. Love Ghost have evolved, and the current lineup has grown in ability and honed their craft to perfection.

There is no doubting that “Dead Brother” is a Love Ghost track, but what is more evident than anything else is how musically and lyrically mature it is. This is a tremendous record from any point of view. There is true musicality and expertise hidden beneath the overlaying dark audio carnage, which is a horror film transposed sonically. It is not for the faint hearted.

You can’t compare this single to anything else Love Ghost have done. Musically and sonically they have pushed themselves to new heights and it is clear a lot of thought has gone into this track, as well as the music video. The track is maleficent energy in its purest form.

Impressive bass and drums kick off the track, while there is a building sense of anticipation, as the angular guitar and keys welcome in the vocals, and the lyrical story begins: “I killed my brother last night. I stabbed him twice with a knife,” sings Finnegan Bell. And that’s the less scary part.

Bell’s curly vocals cut through the black hearted heaviness, as he croons: “I killed my brother last night. I ate his remains. Thanks for all the abuse, now my screws are all loose.” There is a chilling story being told musically that has to be heard to be appreciated. At some points we are in angst, at others we are disturbed, shocked, moved, surrendered, and held captive by its macabre magnetism.

“Dead Brother” is far more than just a rock song, yet could be simply enjoyed as that. Weaving depth and intelligence with an exceptionally dark aesthetic, Love Ghost sets the stage for a gruesome perspective on life…and death! - TUNEDLOUD

Music videos are always exciting to watch because here, the director needs to be more careful to the movement of the characters and to the color choice of the environment (all in accordance with the meaning of the music on the background), than in a regular short film. The difference between a random music video and a great music video stands in the small details that are always hiding in plain sight. In ‘Dead Brother’ there are some elements that transcend the regular spectrum, walking with high confidence into the big boy league. The video and the song are perfectly tuned together, making it impossible not to like the combination in its entirety even though you may not be a massive fan of the genre.
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The visual part has some surprising influences that are not so hard to spot. For us, the video looks like a mash-up between The Killers ‘Mr. Brightside’ combined with Alice in Chains’ ‘Would.’ In more simple terms – one man looking like Lance Staley got the keys to the set where ‘Mr. Brightside’ was filming and intervened in a manner we usually see at Wrestlemania. We don’t know if it was made on purpose, but the singer resembles the former Alice in Chains superhero, and the music as well brings back massive grunge influences with dirty overdrive, punchy basslines and a drum track that goes back to Dave Grohl’s technique on ‘In Bloom.’
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The ending is surprising in both spectrums: the music you hear and the video you see – the man meets the woman, he is covered in blood, but that does not seem to be a problem, as they hug and feel free. Music-wise, the guitar unleashes a dose of fuzz to raise the intensity of the moment, creating the climax we were all expecting. Jeff Daniel Phillips connected different generations with this music video, giving rock music the power and beauty it deserves. Listening to this song will make you relive the glory days of grunge, and will bring back the vibes of the nineties. - Feel the Reel International Film Festival

Love Ghost hails from the Los Angeles area. The band’s latest music video is called “Forgive Me,” and it is ooh la la! The music video is remarkable for a couple of reasons: first, the ages of the members of the band ranges from 15 to 16; second, the video is not the typical three or four minute highly-stylized vignette promulgated by most rock bands, where the producer attempts to bedazzle viewers by means of visual effects.

Before I go any further, I should tell you who is in Love Ghost. Finnegan Bell is on vocals, guitar and piano; Mya Greene displays a rare virtuosity on viola; Ale Sierra sits in the pocket and contributes vocals; Ryan Stevens plays bass and contributes vocals.

Essentially, Love Ghost’s video is a mini-movie, like something from the hand of Fritz Lang, the German expressionist. In short, the video is about the journey one takes to self-forgiveness. It opens with a young man stumbling through the desert, dying from exposure and dehydration. He spots a mysterious figure in the distance and assumes it is a mirage. He removes a locket from around his neck and tosses it aside. Eventually, he comes across an ornate set of gates standing in the middle of nowhere.

It’s at this point, when most videos would be ending, that the music begins.

As the young man pushes through the gates, he discovers they lead into the church of self-forgiveness, where pale, bald, dark-eyed people seek redemption. In the aisle sits a television broadcasting ads for things necessary for happiness. As the screen fills with a preacher baptizing people, the young man is transported to a swimming pool, where black-clad figures wait their turn for baptism. As the preacher extends his hand to the young man, offering him watery absolution, a dandy appears, sitting on the water slide at the end of the pool. Again the young man is transported to another location – outside a factory, where figures dressed in yellow haz-mat suits stand in line before a foreman. The young man runs and is chased. He ends up in a junk yard, which has a cross looking down on it. Falling to the ground, he finds the locket he previously discarded.

Excellent stuff!

“Forgive Me” begins with a dark guitar riff, followed by the drums and then high haunting vocals as the melody is established. The melody is without qualm and advocates somber resolve and decisiveness, as it rides on the guitar. Divine instrumental harmonics are supplied by a delicate viola, along with Ale Sierra’s stellar drumming, which works as another instrument rather than as percussion. Bell’s voice is very good and hard to describe. It’s raw and raspy, with a metallic undertone that emanates suppressed energy.

Good stuff!

The overall feel of “Forgive Me’ is an inarticulate cry of utter desolation as the young protagonist seeks self-forgiveness. There’s a dark, crunching proximity to the song, as it examines the psychic parameters of elusive self-discovery that leads to forgiveness of self.

Good stuff!

Love Ghost has it going on! “Forgive Me” is one of those songs that’s dominant trait is excellence on all fronts: arrangement, production, musicianship and a contagious melody. And Bell’s vocals are just icing on the cake, making it superlative. - The Huffington Post

Indie/alternative/hard rock band Love Ghost has just released a ripper of a song called ‘Let It All Burn’. From the first few notes on the bass, I knew this was going to be a song worth sharing. ‘Let It All Burn’ narrative is from songwriter Finnegan Bell perspective. A very mature approach to coping with horrible things happening to him, he has written a relatable song for many. I like the message of not listening to advice that is not right for everyone and the way that Finnegan has changed a negative experience into an inspirational song. Best sung loudly and with passion! ‘Let It All Burn’s proceeds will go towards Love Ghost’s work on feeding the homeless on skid row. Admirable! I look forward to hearing more from Love Ghost. For now, take a listen to ‘Let It All Burn’ here. - Music Injection

“‘Let It All Burn’ is how I see the world through my 18-year-old eyes. The hypocrisy and unwanted advice that weighed me down during senior year led to this song. My Dad being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer made me more determined- “fuck what they say, I make my own way” I sing in the verse – (songwriter Finnegan Bell). Finnegan Bell (guitar and vocals), Nicky Renard (Guitar), Ryan Stevens (Bass and background vocals) Samson Young (drums and background vocals) and Cory Batchler (keyboards) are the beats and force you feel through this octagonal rock tune. Angles from every slit of sound, the anthem of rebellion, is a succinct ‘f*ck you’ single that has a charm and aura that is distinctly different. It has a ‘pop’ vibe that isn’t quite pop. But it all settles in as the atmosphere is dowsed with the attitude that kicks butt, while you’re dancing away. The song was produced by Danny Saber (Rolling Stones, u2, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie). “For 3 years we have been feeding the homeless on skid row. All proceeds from this song will go to our work with the homeless.” Respect. See them next @ Troubadour, West Hollywood California November 27th. - Come Here Floyd

Segnatevi questo nome: LOVE GHOST. Siamo convinti che saranno di qui a breve la “cosa nuova” del mercato americano. Li avevamo già recensiti per il precedente singolo d’esordio “Let It All Burn”, ma in un lasso di tempo brevissimo la band formalizza un’evoluzione pazzesca.

Presentano adesso il loro secondo lavoro ufficiale, il video del brano intitolato “Dead Brother”. Impossibile non annotare quanto è cresciuto il sound della band. La produzione è ancora una volta affidata a Danny Sabre (The Rolling Stones, U2, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, ecc.). La regia del video è firmata da Jeff Daniel Philips che, a sua volta, ha recitato in tanti film di Rob Zombie.
I ragazzi si stanno facendo le ossa, palco dopo palco (hanno appena completato un lungo tour che li ha portati a girare Irlanda, Giappone ed Ecuador). Hanno acquistato maggiore sicurezza sugli strumenti approdando ad un sound più rotondo. Smaccato l’uso dei reverberi e dei delay, destinati ad evocare i migliori Smashing Pumpkins, senza cadere nella trappola dell’imitazione. Ancora un po’ adolescenziali i testi e le tematiche ad essi legate. Ma avendo vissuto pochissimo (sono tutti poco più che adolescenti) è normale che si rifacciano ad un immaginario flebile e stereotipato. Ci penserà la vita a “sporcarli” e fargli sgorgare parole realmente insanguinate di quel plasma che al momento imbratta solo la faccia del singer che forse, ci permettiamo di dire, gioca un po’ troppo a fare il “maledetto”. Ma ce n’è! Cresceranno. Si svincoleranno dai cliché in cui (un po’ come nel primo video) sono inciampati. Si rialzeranno e ci insegneranno cos’è ancora il rock’n’roll.

Continuano ad essere un diamante grezzo, ma già con questo secondo singolo si intuisce che la pietra che li imprigionava è spaccata e si è arrivati già al prezioso minerale. Dopo il primo ritornello, le dinamiche calano, viene fuori una chitarra alla Black Hole Sun dei Soundgarden. Siamo ancora in “zona citazione”. Non si plagia. Tutto è meravigliosamente coerente. Ancora una volta, una spanna sopra tutti si distingue il sound e lo stile del drummer Samson Young, una delle più belle promesse americane di questo strumento, in questo genere. Nel mare della banalità che sentiamo quotidianamente, ci pare di scorgere barlumi di un fulgido sole “malato” e non vediamo l’ora che presentino il loro primo full length, dalle cui registrazioni, sono già da un po’ impegnati. Li aspettiamo con vera brama.

a cura di Max - wezla

Cari audiofolli, stavolta non vi parleremo di un album, ma di un singolo e non solo un singolo, ma anche un videoclip, realizzato anche con maestria. Un intro spettrale, un vento che entra fino alle ossa, una nebbia e un’ambientazione d’altri tempi. Un rock lento e truce, degno del miglior rallenty.
Moviole e sussurri tra fantasmi e volti di sangue, una grande suggestione che ti conduce in un mondo ultraterreno, un viaggio tra memorie del passato e un basso quasi ipnotico descrive ogni flusso di coscienza con estrema minuzia.
La batteria acustica è godibilissima, sguazza tra pieni e vuoti, oscillando tra idillio e violenza.
Come non notare l’assolo di basso finale a cui seguono ritmiche nichiliste e potenti.
Che si può dire in questi casi? Un gran bel pezzo. Volume alle casse e godetevelo tutto, dall’inizio alla fine. - Audiofollia

With their new music video Dead Brother, the Los Angeles-based alternative rockers from Love Ghost are presenting an audio-visual work of art. Led by singer and guitarist Finnegan Bell and merged into a complete unit by members Ryan Stevens (bass) Samson Young (drums) Nicky Renard (guitar) and Cory Batchler (keyboard) - the alternative rock quintet from overseas won several prizes won. In view of the current Dead Brother output, this is not surprising. Love Ghost also won various prizes with their music videos. With an Oscar-like camera work, Dead Brother represents in the visual aspect an artistic performance video that the band itself affectionately describes as a garage video. The video in which front man Finnegan Bell visually slips into the role of the dead brother largely consists of the performance of the song and this comes powerfully out of the boxes. Powerful basses with a funky aspect, together with the mid-tempo drums, open up the basic musical trace, which is slightly emphasized in the verse by a clean guitar. Dark keyboard parts perfectly loosen the already dark basic mood of the title and give expression to the mood of the title. The topic is about a protagonist who murdered his brother. There is a slight Gothic flair on the number, which spreads from the first to the last second. The members of Love Ghost not only prove themselves to be excellent songwriters and composers, but are absolute professionals on their instruments and on the microphone, who not only master their craft, but are also good songwriters who give their numbers an absolutely convincing arrangement. Gloomy in the verse and emphasized by groovy basses and captivating a fabulous sound design by the keyboardist, Love Ghost rock powerfully in the chorus and release a powerful rocking number in both the same and towards the end, which tells a shocking story about a psychopath. Conclusion 10 out of 10: Shockingly beautiful alternative rock number, which has slight dark rock aspects and deals with a dark subject in a shockingly skilful way and white. Listen without thanks! - She Wolf