galaktikcancersquad-ghostlight-reviews

Review from Heathen Harvest Periodical

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 22:17:20 +0100

From: Heathen Harvest Periodical

Published: July 1, 2014

Sometimes, when I go hunting for new and intriguing releases, I come across band names that just stick to my mind instantly. Understandably, Galaktik Cancer Squad is one of those names. Despite the obvious implications brought about by having the word squad present in your project title, GCS is, in fact, a one-man black metal act, helmed by the anonymous Argwohn, that hails from Hamburg, Germany. The music is focused heavily on an exceptionally melodic and majestic progressive style of black metal that really sticks out from the crowd. Ghost Light is the fourth full-length album to be released in a roughly three-year period, but feels well-rounded and crafted without any signs of a rushed production, which is in itself a sign of either pure unbridled mania or pure musical devotion.

Musically, this album is quite a ride with rich fluid melodies and bombastic rhythms. It all mixes well together into a fine blend of rough vocals, intricate harmonic riffs and just the right amount of blackened structure to maintain a rough core. The varied compositions within Ghost Light are its primary strength; far from a rinse and repeat style of underwhelming repetition, Ghost Light offers a wide variety of inspiration in its running time, and songs such as “Ethanol Nebula” really blow me away with a perfect mix of screeching blackened guitars and heavy trampling percussion. “In Lichterlosen Weiten” is the strongest track of the whole album with its atmospheric structures, laced with caustic harmonious tremolo and epic, almost apocalyptic riffs that are all mixed up with melodious piano parts and appropriate harsh vocals. Overall, the best parts of the album are the constantly mutating structures of the songs; sure, they may not amount to anything groundbreaking, but they are extremely effective in terms of atmosphere and intensity, and really give Ghost Light a life of its own. The tracks are all fairly long, yet never slip into a repetitive or boring state — one sign among many that Argwohn knows what he is doing.

Great as it may be, Ghost Light is like a wooden roller-coaster to me. It peaks somewhere around “In Licterlosen Weiten” and is a bit lacking in variation and inspiration in both “Ethanol Nebula” and “Hypnose”. Ghost Light still exists as a great album, but certain songs just don’t burn through to my soul the way the rest of the album does. Still, this is a slight complaint in an otherwise fine album. In the end, long majestic songs, a somewhat intriguing evolution of black metal, and a damn fine production gives Ghost Light my recommendation to anyone into progressive black metal.

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by: Skarsnik

Review from Metal Revolution Webzine

Tue, 06 May 2014 14:29:37 +0100

From: Metal Revolution Webzine

Published: May 6, 2014

Original Link

Galaktik Cancer Squad is rhythmic post- and progressive black metal project, founded in 2011. It is actually an ambitious and passionate one-man band/project from Hamburg (Germany), and Hypnotic Dirge Records has just released his fourth album Ghost Light, quite impressive?!

There’s no doubt that we are dealing here with highly talented musician, Arwohn, who’s creating some experimental, mature and professional songs. Ghost Light is filled with haunting passages, but also with loads of melody and typical black metal blasts. The vocals are soaring, cacophonous and discordant. Clean guitar parts add this extra dimension to his music, with these haunting and sorrowful lines. To times he switches to some speedy black metal riffing and chugging breakdowns, but it serves the album very well, since it adds some variation and diversity.

Most of the songs are energetic too, particularly created on violent drums and diabolic guitars. It is also an emotional and captivating collection of five lengthy songs that will definitely please the fans of Katatonia, Alcest, Cult Of Luna etc.

“When The Void Whispers My Name” is my absolute highlight of this album, but all tracks are more or less equally good. Ghost Light is an elegant and pretty varied progressive and post-metal record. It is extremely well-written and with amazing production. Be touched by the spirit of sadness and melancholy and embrace the ‘galaktik cancer squad’!

Rating: 81/100

Reviewed by: Bato

Review from Sadik Underground Review

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 19:04:01 +0100

From: Sadik Underground Review

Published: April 8, 2014

Original Link

*Google translation of Italian review

If there is an album that surprised me in 2013, that is certainly " Ghost Light "of Galaktik Cancer Squad , a one-man German band who reappears on the scene after 3 albums digitally with the fourth effort. As mentioned earlier, the whole project is in the hands of one man: Argwohn. The type of music proposal is very ambitious: it is Melodic Black Metal with strong influences from post-rock ; two genres that usually are completely incompatible, but our Argwohn has succeeded in creating a harmonious combination of them that has some spark of Death Metal here and there. Before proceeding to the description of the tracks that struck me most is appropriate to say a few words about the instrumental technique of the musician. Every single instrument, in fact, played very well, presenting a great variety of compositions (mainly due to influences from many different genres listed above) as regards both the riffs and guitar solos, they know to be melancholic and sad-but also energetic and tritaossa that only knows how to be more raw Black Metal-, both with regard to the battery, which ranges from blast beats to the rhythms of classic, never to bore the listener. Now comes the most difficult moment: the songs. It is one of the most complicated parts of this review for the simple fact that these tracks, although a few (5 in total), all communicate something different and unique, from rhythmic typically Melodic Death Metal riff harmonized with style Insomnium (as in second track "When the Void Whispers My Name" ) to melancholy and dreamy arpeggios (as at the end of "Ethanol Nebula" and even "When The Void Whispers My Name"), or again as in the opening riff Black Metal " Ethanol Nebula "and "In Lichterlosen Weiten" . One of the things I most appreciated in this record is the presence of elements of Post Rock / Shoegaze , which give a touch of sadness and resignation more than in this style of music never hurts, as well as the piano arpeggio inserted into the third track, which gives the impression of calm before the storm, and then explode into a storm Black Metal. And this is what really amazes: the originality and variety of styles that are perfectly blended so that steps arpeggios, melodic riffs a bit 'more pissed off are never forced, but quite natural. It is as if the music on this disc represent the duality of the human soul, from a compassionate and emotional side, the other brutal and violent. It is now rare to find musicians capable of creating their own masterpieces of this caliber and I think that Argwohn has managed to create something innovative and original that would be able to hit any music lover and not extreme. That said, I am proud to own a copy of this fantastic album that will continue to accompany me for a long time with his emotions and his ferocity.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Strange

Review from Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:52:45 +0100

From: Forgotten Path Magazine; Issue 6

Published: November 2014

Magazine Website

This one-man project from Germany, which was established just in 2011, has already released their fourth full-length album last year. It is important to mention that the one and only band member Argwohn from Hamburg plays in another four projects, whose genres vary from DSBM/Shoegaze to Pagan/Folk Metal, thus it would be foolish to doubt the abilities of this musician.

In internet resources Galaktik Cancer Squad is labelled as a Progressive Black Metal band. Though I really don’t argue about such a tag, the more that I personally write on such a genre and this band is that “progressive” has nothing in common with indefinite connotation - you simply won’t hear any odd and various interludes as it is in Ihsahn or In Vain music; also there will not be any of the technical chaos, like Deathspell Omega or representatives of Dark Ambient and Industrial Blut aus Nord. All in all, that word “progressive” means just more sophisticated structures of the songs, deeper and better expressed atmosphere, bigger amount of clear instrumental music, perhaps it is quite reminiscent of the famous Progressive Metal celebrities, but all this never betrays its Black Metal core. Even those long and almost lyrical guitar interludes rarely achieve the impression of Post-Rock and Black compound, which is so popular nowadays. However, this progressiveness is often formed with the assistance of keyboards; sometimes the guitars are just stuck in same chime, whereas the songs, as mostly in such music, they slackly conjoin to the body of music. Thus, totality is sentenced to be evaluated by sensing just impressions and creating quite an eclectic palette of impressions.

Anyhow, seeing that the reviews on the internet are really favourable, often naming this album as epic, frenzied, raising the band to the top, besides that, an overall picture doesn't leave any specific impression - you won’t find any unheard stuff, the general energy of the album is truly heterogeneous and dependent on quite artificial, yet quite ductile sound. I really would like to suggest “Ghost Light” to the fans of Progressive Black Metal, but I believe that others could find some better representatives of this genre...

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by: Bloodie

Review from Volumes of Sin Webzine

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 11:09:36 +0100

From: Volumes of Sin Webzine

Published: March 6, 2014

Original Link

Solo member of Galaktik Cancer Squad, Argwohn, has been releasing his dark arias since 2009; having been involved in numerous projects and a couple of solo endeavors such as the current band that stands at the chopping block today. His previous three full-length albums through Galaktik Cancer Squad have had digital only releases, up until the time that they were scooped up by Hypnotic Dirge Records and given a re-release; this makes his latest adventure, Ghost Light, both his fourth album and the first album to be given an immediate physical release. What devious dirges lay within the encoding on this CD, and is it worth it for you to check it out?

Ghost Light is a fairly lengthy album that comes in at just over fifty minutes in length, and what causes the content to feel longer are the durations of each track. The shortest song, oddly enough the title track, comes in at just under seven minutes in length while the longest is "Hypnose" at fifteen minutes. As well, the latter mentioned track is also is entirely instrumental and surprisingly the absolute highlight of the material. If the endurance of the audience allows, they will find themselves swept away in the haunting depth that this album has to offer; however, despite the indulgence of constant change that this album takes on, those that lack patience may find themselves drifting away from the content come the third or fourth track.

The guitars are the true highlight of the content, there is both rhythm and lead presented here and both do an outstanding job of carrying the material through consistent tempo and symphony changes. The lead guitar spoils the listener with picking sections, awe-inspiring bridges and outlandish solos, as well as mandatory tremolo sections that are well placed and sparse. The tone and distortion typically stays at a stagnant higher elevation over the rhythm guitar, which keeps it characterized from the grittier rhythm timbre. These differences are brought to climax in the formidable second track, "When the Void Whispers My Name", which is also the only song to feature English lyrics (the rest are in German). Understandably, the rhythm guitar devotes the large majority of it's time to palm muted and open power chord riffs that give the album its weight since there is a lack of audible bass among the chaos endowed compositions. To furthermore add to the constantly evolving guitars, there are also acoustics every now and then which assist the slow tempo segments in atmosphere creation; most notably within "In lichterlosen Weiten", "Ghost Light" and "When the Void Whispers My Name".

From the beginning the drums sound as if they could be comprised of a drum machine due to the cold and calculated feel they convey during "Ethanol Nebula". Many of the blast beats and double bass kicks sound triggered and robotic, less fluid in movement than what would be given off with a human touch. While this isn't a necessary downside to Ghost Light, the deprivation of creative beats and patterns holds the material back at times. There are some great marching rolls in "In lichterlosen Weiten" and some captivating rhythms here and there that are defined by toms and snares, still a large portion of the drum compositions are comprised of typical black metal blast beats that tend to fill elongated voids; essentially providing a background canvas for the guitars to play on top of.

There are subtle pianos heard inside of various tracks that adds to the overall icy atmosphere that the album gives off. This element is endearing and it would be something to possibly incorporate more in future releases. The vocals are overlaid in sections as Argwohn switches up his styles between shrill highs and growling lows, such as in "Ghost Light" and "When the Void Whispers My Name". Both styles are strong and come easily to the vocalist, the overlays add a welcomed depth to well placed areas of certain tracks and never sound forced or overdone. Typically he will sing in one style or the other, and can skillfully change on a whim if he so desires.

Ghost Light assuredly has it's fair share of issues, but these concerns are few and far between. Argwohn has delivered a powerful album that takes the listener on a majestic journey through time and space, to the outer regions of imagination. Aside from the somewhat redundant and harsh, mechanized drumming, the album stands firm and delivers it's message with an impacting force. It's definitely worth a listen for fans of progressive and black metal genres, although if you're not planning on sticking out the whole trip recommended tracks are definitely "Hypnose", "Ghost Light" and "When the Void Whispers My Name".

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Villi Thorne

Review from Chronicles of Chaos Webzine

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:01:01 +0100

From: Chronicles of Chaos Webzine

Published: March 2, 2014

Original Link

Black metal has gone through many changes in its relatively short existence, and these days it seeks incessantly new turf for its artistic aspirations, and like all forms of metal, it is restless, curious, bold and relentlessly expeditionary; almost no aural stone was left unturned in black metal's (and its latest addition as post-black metal) constant quest for new sounds, new inspirational substances and odd (or pedestrian) marriages of styles and aesthetics.

The German one-man project Galaktik Cancer Squad is no different than most of today's black metal musicians who do just that: constantly searching and experimenting; and frankly, black metal is probably the only metal movement that has enough room within its stylistic boundaries (or lack thereof) for almost any foreign sound, paradigm, influence or combination, and when you think about it, this notion is being realized on daily basis. I mean, who wants to be yet another Darkthrone clone? Not many, I hope. The irony is that a musical style like black metal, that was supposed to be the most purist of them all, has become the most open-minded of all sub-genres of metal, always prone to changes and experimentation. Ha!

Case in point: 'Ghost Light', a rather intriguing metal album of many facets, bearing the black metal backdrop; its stylistic distinctive sound of buzzing guitars and blasting rhythms, its tremolo picking technique that's ever present and a raspy, low-pitched growler who matches the metallic maelstrom in a good way -- all sound pretty basic black metal to me.

However, if black metal is the mother-ship here, then the probes and satellites it sends to outer space are communicating with a plethora of other rock 'n' roll sounds, from good old heavy metal (Iron Maiden riffage and guitar tone), through post-rock and folk, to death metal and shoegaze.

The result is outstanding and exhilarating; turns and plot twists abound, and _Ghost Light_ is a tour de force of inventiveness and creativity, carrying out astral compositional wonders free of any genre esthetic or rigid rule, and like a sonic sponge, the album readily absorbs any form of sound or inspirational material into its metallic matrix, and in turn spews forth an array of celestial sounds that are extremely engaging and harmonious.

From blast beats to bag pipes; from death to black metal's finest moments; from intricate post-rock to melancholic, hazy shoegaze rock, the album is a barrage of abrasive yet calculated violence and vitriolic wonder that is as dichotomous in its spectrum of sonic visions as the vast deep space itself: cold, cruel and nonchalant to human suffering and yet bright and warm and radiating with an array of impossibly beautiful colors that once glanced upon, they own the power to make even the blackest of human hearts sing in joy.

If the truth be told, I have never heard an album quite like _Ghost Light_; its spacey attributes and multitude of elements, both miniscule and plain for all to see, are singular and stupefying, to say the least. However, if you could imagine a marriage between Zgard's folk-ish beauty (mainly 'Reclusion' and 'Astral Glow'), Liturgy's 'Renihilation' and Amber Tears' 'Revelation of Renounced', you'd have a faint idea of the capabilities and powers of transcendence invested in 'Ghost Light', radiating like the brightest galaxy within the darkest space.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Chaim Drishner

Review from Scholomance Webzine

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 08:40:58 +0100

From: Scholomance Webzine

Published: February 2, 2013

Original Link

*Google translation of French review

Galaktik Cancer Squad is a One-Man Band Black Metal Progressive, from Hamburg in Germany. It is the musician Argwohn (Durothar, Garleben, Grauzeit, Morphinist, former Metakognition) which deals with instrumentation and vocals. It has to its credit since its inception in 2011, four albums, two splits, an EP and a compilation. A rather productive musician, therefore we reserve its latest album, "Ghost Light." It was released last year via the Hypnotic Dirge Records.

The artwork is simple, with black drawing of a nebula in shades of red orange. Although simple, it is effective, attaches the eye and allows you to dive into the world of the musician.

Black Metal proposed by Galaktik Cancer Squad is called Progressive. Characteristic element of this: the duration of the five pieces that make up the album from 7 minutes to a quarter of an hour.

The instrumentation, far from being as complex as one might expect, the path is part of several styles that blend extremely well, playing with atmospheres. Within the same piece, we find elements of Post-Black musicians then passes over more parts Ambient like Ethanol Nebula. 'In lichterlosen Weiten is a piece that also switches between styles with more melodic parts and this keyboard, which allows you to create different moods in the spirit of' Aspera Hiems Symfonia 'of Artcurus or very melancholy. But again, in the same song, there is nothing similar in the beginning. The end of it fits in a more traditional Black Metal, with a faster tempo and violent riffs, like 'When the Void Whispers My Name.

The Progressive side feels at some guitar parts on the song as 'hypnosis' is there, supported by a keyboard purely progressive sounds, giving an appearance'' space'' to music.

The song is a very good support to Black Metal parts and avoids to us listeners, bored with parties who may be too atmospheric and without variations. Although there is no great variation in the song, its occasional use is intelligently used to avoid, again, the monotony of an album that might be too long without it. The title track of the album, 'Ghost Light', is a perfect example, with quiet time, melody and other violent and fast.

Despite undeniable strengths, the album has some weaknesses. Of course, it varies and it avoids boredom. The alternation of Post-Black of Atmospheric Black, Black and Prog is a strong point. But also a weak point because these parts lack originality and personality, although their use is well done. They are very traditional. We regret the lack of more progressive parts like 'hypnosis' that can transcribe musical space nebulae. Especially that music is central to the work of Cancer Galaktik Squad.

"Ghost Light" is a great album for any fan of Post / Atmospheric / Black Metal but fishing on the progressive side. It would benefit from developing it to find an original musical personality and play, therefore, more easily with other styles, to continue to break down barriers between them.

Reviewed by: Morgan

Review from Nocturnal Cult Webzine

Sun, 29 Dec 2013 18:37:32 +0100

From: Nocturnal Cult Webzine

Published: December 21, 2013

Original Link

Galaktik Cancer Squad is rhythmic post-black metal emanations from the Tuetonic heartland. After a midtempo Katatonia-esque segment a haunting melodic passage surges from the darkness and carries into a melodic lead on the album's opener, Ethanol Nebula. The riffs drop into a more throbbing texture before erupting into melodic Nordic black metal blasts once again. Fragile, clean guitar sets a sorrowful mood before thicker riffs roll in and bring deathly vocals on When The Void Whispers My Name. These are soon swept away by speedy black metal riffs and chugging breakdowns which soon subside into melancholic doominess. This is somewhat of a black metal version of Katatonia's Brave Murder Day. At least in emotion and even a bit in style. I love the galloping melody that starts around the 5:26 mark. The song finishes out with an extended period of clean, forlorn guitar. Vibrating, shimmering guitars which linger on mournful notes drifts into intense black metal beats as In Lichterlosen Weiten gets underway. Blasting, violent drums and riffs create a monstrous energy as the song flows into hyper melodic passages and then circles back around again. An almost folky guitar passage paints the center of the track then more and more guitars are woven into the song's fabric until that characteristic vibrating electric guitar takes over once more. Soft synth gives the song a majestic and somewhat hopeful quality before it washed away by blasting black metal. Up next is the title-track. A frenzied energy possesses the guitars and drums from the outset but quickly shifts back into a midtempo march. Even that is short-lived as speedy black metal melodies fly out of the speakers only to see the drums fall off from their pace. The final movement of the track is elegant clean guitar that sounds almost medieval. Galaktik Cancer Squad has crafted an album that is varied in mood and style, yet it all remains consistent and united through deft songwriting. Ghost Light is an album that leaves me touched by the spirit of melancholy and chilled by the iciness of its black metal core.

Reviewed by: Bradley Smith

Review from Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:17:56 +0100

From: Pure Nothing Worship Magazine; Issue 2

Published: February 2014

Magazine Website

Young, one-man project from Germany, Galaktik Cancer Squad, although existing from 2011, delivers their fourth full length already. “Ghost Light” delivers a 50 minute opus of slightly progressive, post-black metal. A dense, energetic album, flowing with different elements but mostly centered around fast paced post-black metal with a unique approach and interesting song composition. At different moments, as customary to all these “post” bands, the clean, tremolo driven guitar riffs, evoke a strong sense of emotion, but in the case of “Ghost Light”, the nature of this emotion is somehow elusive. Longing? Loss? Nostalgia? Fervor? Embark on this journey and find out for yourself.

Review from Teeth of the Divine Webzine

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:17:23 +0100

From: Teeth of the Divine Webzine

Published: October 15, 2013

Original Link

The second best release from Hypnotic Dirge’s recent offerings, you’d expect this to be a German crazy, industrial, off kilter black metal release based on that moniker and such. However, the band while in fact German, and is somewhat ambitious, they share more with the progressive, avant garde black metal movement of the mid 90′s, especially the likes of Fleurety.

Consisting of one man: Argwohn, Ghost Light is a pretty damn solid release that does everything right production and writing wise, takes a few chances, but never over steps its bounds within the more progressive black metal pastures. It’s perfectly progressive, not quirky or too eclectic. The balance between progressive, experimental atmospherics and melodic, tremolo riffs and a few stuttering, angular ebbs give the release a nice character that’s playful yet introspective and slightly dissonant, while still dressed in a predominantly black metal visage. The vocals are a mix of screams and deeper rasps, no clean croons, wails or over the top shrieks- as with the music, its varied but not over the top.

Argwohn does a nice job of of delivering some really nice, harmonic and alluring riffs amid some more experimental structures and twists, but it all comes together very nicely such as the nine minute “When the Void Whispers My Name” or the 12 minute ”In Lichterlosen Weiten” (with some really nice melody lines and acoustic breaks, and the orchestral/bridge bridge around 4 minutes from the end is gorgeous) two of the 5 rangy songs that standout on Ghost Light. The title track is also a solid number, but admittedly, being the fourth track on a pretty long, varied affair, requires a little more patience and attention to absorb as fatigue sets it, even more so for the 15 minute and very Min Tid Skal Komme-ish closer “Hypnose”. The track has a more jarring, edgy presence with less of an emphasis of pure black melodies, and is the albums most caustic (surprisingly so) track, and the fact it is an instrumental takes away some of the character also, but it shows Argwohn’s versatility and ability to put the pedal to the metal if needed.

Another solid release from Hypnotic Dirge to go along with the outstanding Obsidian Tongue, and solid Frigoris and Oradnek Room releases.

Reviewed by: E. Thomas