H_ngm_n is a British emo pop band from Brighton, England that consistently features ear-catching melodies that will get stuck in your head. They know how to write a pop punk song in a way that is not overly generic but keeps itself familiar enough to stick with you. Having previously reviewed their track “Nothing Personal,” I feel that their new single “Ghosts” once again hits off in all of the right places!
The track starts off with slightly overdriven guitars and a simple drum beat before showing a glimpse of louder post-hardcore-esque distorted guitars and then going into the verses. The verses go between a palm-muted style with the lead singer’s melodic, clean vocal style contrasting this rhythmic progression into moments featuring loud, distorted guitars that really add to the energy. This sort of texture change does a lot to keep the listener’s attention and bring out the energy and emotion in the vocals.
The lyrics themselves tell of a narrator haunted by his past. Some lyrics that stood out especially include “I’ll let shadows consume me,” which feels like a powerful description of being overtaken by the darkness of your own thoughts. He describes regret and the way we all tend to hide how we really feel until it’s too late. My personal favorite part of the song was the ending, in which the track breaks up into a crushed-up, distorted lo-fi mess of emotion. It keeps from being overly noisy and instead shows just enough darkness to exemplify the song’s mood, but does not throw off the entire vibe of the song. I found it impressive that they were able to include this experimental noise sound in a very pop-oriented song. Overall, the track shows off some great pop sensibilities with enough experimentation and variation to really keep things feeling unique and alternative. You can find the track and support the band directly on BANDCAMP! For more information on the project, including their social media pages, where you can follow their new releases and upcoming shows, refer to their LINKTREE HERE!
Written by Naomi Niemiec
