Narnia: Ghost Town | Lost In A Ghost Town
(Voice Music/Narnia Songs – 2023)
It is interesting to delve into the history and discography of Narnia, a band that since their first release some time ago (1998), has been releasing very polished works with an incredible vitality. It has practically maintained almost the same line-up for years, although its musical line has been evolving with the passing of time, going through almost every mood. In this case, and after an excellent “From Darkness To Light” (2019), in which Narnia gave a twist to their proposal with results ranging from very good to excellent, here they return to the introspective with everything that means their style framed between Hard Rock and Melodic Power Metal with progressive dyes.
In this album the songs do not have as much hook as in the previous album, but it maintains more compositional unity. Far from being a concept album, Narnia proposes us to get into this “ghost town” in which there are no catchy melodies or choruses that invite you to raise your fist. Instead, we have 10 songs that go from that epic entrance that implies “Rebel”, the album’s entrance to something more classic Narnia like “Glory Daze”. With songs like “Descension” or “Alive” the band gets fully into that progressive plan, and in “Out Of Silence” the beloved Eric Clayton, vocalist of the frozen? extinct? or what? Saviour Machine, and we already know, bald with bald make together an explosive mixture, but that in this case derives in a piece without much shine, with a slow tempo, with reminiscences to the Saviour Machine of the trilogy of “Legend” but that goes hooked with the last track of the disc, perhaps one of the best themes of the disc, “Wake Up Call”.
The rest of “Ghost Town” does not surprise too much, being able to highlight perhaps “Thief” and “Hold On” as the most Narnia moments of all. That is to say, the fans that have been following the band, can be satisfied since the band fulfills what is expected of them, but not much more. The band’s musical foundation maintains a unity that is in line with what we are used to.
As for the cover artwork and internal envelope, “Ghost Town” far surpasses previous releases. That apocalyptic image of the moon over a “ghost town” really makes you look at the cover more than once. Internally it is complete with live photographs of the band, of course with the lyrics of each track. Lyrically there is not much that surprises, Narnia has a specific and very direct message, and that’s fine, but in that sense, the title track “Ghost Town” stands out, with interesting definitions (“Interrupted stories…they all end here…in this place…”) and a much more cryptic message than the band is used to.
Beyond what can be noticed in this album, it is more than clear that without being a continuity with their previous release, Narnia returns a bit to a more progressive sound without pretending, I think, that this should be taken as an evolution in their music and style but rather as a turn of the screw but not completely convincing. Is that a bad thing? Not at all, there is nothing written about tastes, but the truth is that when Narnia appeals to less pretentious proposals and opts for simplicity is when they are most accurate.
To get this album, you can go to https://www.narniatheband.com
