The Ghost Inside Albums Ranked

The Ghost Inside, formerly known as A Dying Dream, is an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of vocalist Jonathan Vigil, guitarists Zach Johnson and Chris Davis, bassist Jim Riley and drummer Andrew Tkaczyk. They have released one EP and five studio albums, with their latest, The Ghost Inside, released on June 5, 2020, via Epitaph Records as a return from their hiatus. The Ghost Inside’s music has been classified as metalcore[ and “melodic, emotional hardcore”. They have self-identified as melodic hardcore, for example on their Facebook page. However, former bassist and backing vocalist Jim Riley stated in a 2013 interview that “to [him] the band is a metalcore band” and that they’re “similar to Unearth or As I Lay Dying or something like that, with a little bit fewer guitar solos and a little bit less singing”. He said that they are influenced by “an older generation of bands” such as Throwdown, Bury Your Dead (especially Beauty and the Breakdown), Misery Signals, Killswitch Engage, Unearth (especially The Oncoming Storm), and Bleeding Through, some of which he considers “seminal to what metalcore is”, as well as modern music that isn’t necessarily heavy (such as pop-punk), and that he himself listens “to a lot of emo”. In a 2009 interview, vocalist Jonathan Vigil stated that he grew up listening to punk rock bands such as NOFX and Less Than Jake before getting into heavier bands such as Hatebreed and Slipknot, while guitarist Aaron Brooks said that he listened to bands like Bad Religion before getting into Poison the Well, that one of his favorite bands currently are Comeback Kid and that he also appreciates Hatebreed. This musical background was further confirmed when Zach Johnson listed NOFX’s Punk in Drublic, Strung Out’s Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues, and AFI’s Black Sails in the Sunset as his favorite three albums. Here are all of The Ghost Inside albums ranked.

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5. Returners (2010)

“This is surprisingly good for a Metalcore album. I usually avoid that genre, since it’s almost 99% guttural vocals + breakdowns + cringey lyrics, but this one manages to be quite enjoyable. It still utilises the above tropes, but it uses them in a surprisingly tasteful manner (as opposed to say, Asking Alexandria.) The riffs are fun, the breakdowns actually feel earnt, instead of just being there for the sake of being there. And the lyrics, while nothing to write home about, don’t make me want to tear my ears off in pain.”

4. Dear Youth (2014)

“Album is excellent, the best from this band yet. I feel like they finally found and mastered their signature sound. It’s heavy, melodic, upbeat, and highly motivating to me anyway. Mixing is superb with a great balance between instrumental and vocal sounds, both very raw in a good way. I would highly recommend this product.”

3. The Ghost Inside (2020)

“The first song I heard from this album was Aftermath; and words could not describe how that song made me feel! This album was more then worth the wait and their journey as a band is definitely ingrained in it. The greatest album they have done. GET IT!!”

2. Fury and the Fallen Ones (2008)

“Good but ultimately derivative metalcore with hardcore leanings. There just isn’t anything that really impresses me here but altogether it is super solid, especially if you like this kind of thing. And you better because they guys are doing absolutely nothing new with this style. Sure, the album is almost 8 years old at this point (it wasn’t even innovative back then, let me assure you) but still, you should know what to expect here. Pretty enjoyable all the way though regardless.”

1. Get What You Give (2012)

“Raw emotion. That’s what The Ghost Inside deliver here if nothing else. They manage to turn simplistic chugging riffs and rhythms into an emotional journey by hitting the right notes both instrumentally and vocally. The lyrics are very personal and you feel as though you can relate to how they feel. It’s very powerful when music can do that for you. The breakdowns are heavy as they should be and the drum work is pretty excellent. Just a very solid release and my favorite by them thus far.”