Martin Ives

Many thousands of words have been reported on these guys worldwide about the incessant naming wrangles, which effectively left the band on the blocks for about a year. Thankfully, one ironic name change later, Give up the ghost (the band formerly known as American nightmare, American nothing and The Eagles –OK I made that last one up) are back with a new album, and gladly it’s still composed with the same embittered urgency that punctuated their “Background music” debut. Though having said that, it’s no “Background music” mark 2, the time away and time on the road has brought a sense of skewed melodicism, and a new application of dynamics, which allows more expression within the music, which compliment the introspective, almost gang mentality lyrics perfectly. The album kicks of somberly with an understated strummed intro before first track proper “Love American” bursts forth from the speakers akin to taking a tumble down the stairs. From then on in, it’s a rocky ride with tracks lik   Read Full Review >>

Alistair Lawrence

Give ‘em the spooks…

IT MUST be frustrating for these Bostonian sluggers to still be known by most as the band who couldn’t hold their original name, American Nightmare. However, appearing the other side of their legal tussle with the knowing nod of their new monicker should indicate they’ve pushing something in desperately short support: hardcore with wits as quick as it’s frenzied delivery. Any clichés they brush up against while carefully navigating their way back to the essence of old school energy are neither excused as ironic or acknowledged with embarrassment. The aural equivalent of a night in the cells with only a stun gun and sadistic prison guard for company. “We’re down…” is an unrelenting half-hour of catharsis that’ll strip-search your pretensions if you allow it the time needed to borrow under your skin. Vicious, cerebral and expertly executed.

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