Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Narnia, 'Ghost Town'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Narnia
Ghost Town



Genre(s): Metal
Album length: 10 tracks: 47 minutes
Street Date: March 17, 2023


READER RATING:   


The veteran Swedish metal band Narnia is back with their first post-pandemic release, Ghost Town. In sound and message, the album feels like a pseudo-sequel to 2019's From Darkness to Light with some subtle differences. Lead vocalist Christian Liljegren gives his voice a rougher edge while keyboardist Martin Härenstam has more to do with synth sounds and piano work. What remains the same is the band's commitment to melodic rock and straightforward lyrics that point to Jesus.

If a theme can be found in Ghost Town, it's the call to come out of worldliness and long for the day when we'll be taken out of it completely. You still have gospel calls (like the opener, "Rebel"), but the larger focus is on Christians living in the world today. There are the more encouraging aspects of that (like "Hold On" and the standout title track), but the band doesn't shy away from calling out those who are straying ("Glory Daze", "Modern Day Pharisees", "Wake Up Call"). Sprinkle in a couple eschatological tracks ("Descension", "Out of the Silence") and you have a record that's ready to take on the world as we know it today.

While that message is always timely, the way it's expressed doesn't always land right. Rhyme schemes don't always catch on some of the tracks, and the melodies on this album don't have the same earworm effect that From Darkness featured. The melodies grow on you through repeat listens, but it would have made the songs feel stronger with better melodic hooks. While that side of the songcraft wavers through the album's course, the music does not. Dynamic, operatic, and epic are all fitting descriptors for Ghost Town. There are moments of sonic swells that catch you up and take you for a wild ride. The added keyboard work from Härenstam also adds a little '80s element to the sound. For instance, the opening to "Thief" feels like the approach of a boss battle from an old SEGA Genesis game. The musical element carries the album from being a run-of-the-mill metal throwback to being something truly worth a listen.

If I may make the comparison, Narnia succeeds with Ghost Town where Stryper didn't with last year's The Final Battle. Where the latter carried on with more of the same, the former found ways to tweak their sound and add subtle elements to distinguish their new album from their previous one. Fans of either band will find plenty to enjoy here. The sound is loud, the guitar riffs and solos fall like a deluge, and Liljegren's vocals have, at times, a Michael Sweet quality. It may take a few listens to really get into this record, but this is one Ghost Town worth spending some time in.

- Review date: 3/15/23, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Narnia Songs
. Album length: 10 tracks: 47 minutes
. Street Date: March 17, 2023
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Rebel (4:06)
  2. Thief (5:06)
  3. Hold On (4:05)
  4. Glory Daze (4:27)
  5. Descension (7:11)
  6. Ghost Town (3:42)
  7. Alive (4:02)
  8. Modern Day Pharisees (4:11)
  9. Out of the Silence (feat. Eric Clayton) (4:17)
  10. Wake Up Call (5:52)

 

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, February 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Anike With Love, Anike - EP [Reach]
Leanna Crawford Still Waters (Deluxe) [Provident]
HeIsTheArtist Confessions of a Fallen Angel - EP [MTS]
Marvin Sapp If I Were an R&B Singer - EP [Elev8]
Sidewalk Prophets Looking Up [Curb]
Spoken Worth Jesus Is (independent)
Denison Witmer Anything At All [Asthmatic Kitty]
Team Omega Something To Chew On (independent)
Two Car Garage Peace & Love (independent)
With Blood Comes Cleansing With Blood Comes Cleansing (independent)

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down His Mercy is More - Single [BEC]
Alphein Lost In Ya Love - Single [Syntax]
Bill B. Get It Right - Single [Syntax]
Josh Baldwin Thank You Jesus (Studio Version) - Single [Bethel]
Jeremy Camp Again - Single [Capitol CMG]
Megan Danielle Honey Sweet - Single [Provident]
Deep Al Brindle Tell Me - Single [Tooth & Nail]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pray About It (feat. Big Fil) - Single [Marv4MoBeats]
Diatheke The Creator - Single [Rottweiler]
DJ Mykael V & 350 350 Waze! - Single (independent)
Drenae & OnBeatMusic Me & You - Single [Syntax]
Elevation Worship I Know A Name (feat. Brandon Lake) - Single [Elevation]
Fine China Fraught With Danger - Single [Velvet Blue]
Keith & Kristyn Getty Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise) [live] feat. Sandra McCracken - Single [Getty]
Heartbound The Monster I See - Single (independent)
IMRSQD Pure Gold - Single (independent)
Jericko Only You - Single [Syntax]
Lady Redneck Amazing Grace - Single [MTS]
Olivia Lane Who God Says You Are - Single [BEC]
Ethan Luck Going Down - Single (independent)
Meet Your Maker Cowards - Single (independent)
Adam Nigh Bodega Bay (feat. Rachel Nigh) - Single (independent)
P.O.D. I Won't Bow Down (feat. Andres Gimenez) - Single [Mascot]
QEW LVL Up - Single [Syntax]
Simply Worship Light (feat. Tenielle Neda) - Single (independent)
Sixpence None the Richer Kiss Me (Live) - Single [Flatiron]
SNT. VINCENT Invite Me - Single [Syntax]
Solachi Voz Horsepower - Single [Syntax]
Sound Street Heaven In The House - Single [Sonlite]
Sower & Second Adam and the New Creations Prodigal Pulpits - Dual Single (independent)
Strings and Heart Empty Airport - Single (independent)
Brandon Watson Still Hurts - Single (independent)
Wild Harbors Close Eye - Single (independent)

Next Friday, February 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Gather Worship Hear The World That You So Love Sing Back To You [Integrity]
Mat Kearney Mat Kearney (still drowning in nostalgia) [Deluxe] [Middle Kid]
Natalie Layne All Joy [Centricity]
David Leonard Just Jesus [Provident]
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal [Gaither]

SINGLES
Coqui only Idol - Single [DREAM]
Melody Noel Closer Than I Know - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham The King is in the Room - Single [Fair Trade]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images