Holy shit.
Honestly, nothing more needs to be said. Luckily, I'm a Great American Ghost super-fan, so I have a lot more to say about this cover of "Hole in the Earth" (originally by Deftones).
Great American Ghost have been making waves in the heavy music scene for over a decade now and they're showing no signs of stopping. From their first release, Everyone Leaves, back in 2015 to their most recent album, Tragedy of The Commons, the band has never strayed from their passion, vision, and message. Covering Deftones might come across as a strange path to take, but the end result is something absolutely stunning. Speaking about the cover, vocalist Ethan Harrison mentions:
"'Hole in the Earth' was our first and only choice when we decided to tackle a Deftones song. Not only is it our collective favorite by one of our biggest influences, but the subject matter really resonated with us at the time of recording. I'd encourage anyone listening to explore the story behind the song — and know that GAG was in a very similar place when we tracked this. We're really proud of how it turned out."
One of the first things listeners will notice is how Great American Ghost honored the original release while not altering their core-sound. With just how eerily similar the vocals are to the original while that chunky-hardcore sound dances behind each lyric and note, I almost want to mosh in slow motion? Does that make sense? I've found myself going back to the beginning of the song over and over again and with each new listen, I notice something different to focus on.
Similar to the trajectory of a band like Knocked Loose, Great American Ghost has consistently gotten heavier and angrier with each release and I hope that never stops. Yet, the musical talent of the band is showcased by the band with this cover and shows the world that Great American Ghost should never be lumped into a category of "just another band".
