SONG REVIEW: Ghastly Town - "The Red Lipstick Murder Case"
“Ghastly Town’s new energetic single also comes with a murderous message!”
by Jesse Smith
We haven’t done many international reviews but right now is as good of a time as any, especially with an underrated talent like this. Portugal is the place where a lot of folklore and monsters come from, and some that even inspire folklore here in the USA like Pumpkinhead. Portugal also is the home of the band Ghastly Town, who is a theatrical mix of post hardcore, emo, and pop punk. As I sat down to listen to “The Red Lipstick Murder Case” I read their press kit and I was absolutely blown away and knew exactly what I was about to dive into. They have made a full, almost comic book-like bio press sheet that goes above and beyond what most do which immediately stood out to me. Ghastly Town first put out music in 2016 with an EP called “Cut Their Wings''. Through the years the band have come light years in songwriting and musicianship from 2016, and now that leads to their new single “The Red Lipstick Murder Case.”
Incredibly upbeat and energetic with a murderous message! The theatrical trio follows the footsteps of bands like Alesana, Famous Last Words, and My Chemical Romance of having that theater aspect in their music and following a story. Immediately in the intro the horn section is really interesting and captivating. It sets the vibe that this is more than just a song, it’s a tale, a story. A seamless transition from a ragtime intro to a fast paced emo riff that catches you off guard in a good way. As vocalist Tiago “Ashes” Pereira steps into the limelight, he ties everything together while showcasing his impeccable vocal control, the story starts! Moving through the song it is incredibly fast so you must be fully paying attention. The MCR inspiration really comes out during the chorus in the way Ashes plays around with the vocal melody and makes it feel over the top. As lively as the song is, the part that really took me back was the breakdown! This is where their post hardcore/metalcore influences come in full effect and to be honest it hit SO DAMN HARD! As energetic and unpredictable the song is, I never expected that. Not only was the breakdown unique in its structure, It was the perfect break from the fast paced song and really stood out in a good way.
The song also has a music video that depicts the story. The story plot is like the boardgame “Clue” and is to be taken lightly. While the video has some comedic relief in it, The song remains to be a serious smash. “The Red Lipstick Murder” is a fun and entertaining song that is full of passion and energy and is well written. If you’re a fan of My Chem’s the black parade era as well as early Famous Last Words, you will for sure get a rise out of Ghastly Town. If you’re looking for something fun and good, Ghastly Town has you covered!