Remember when guitar bands were fun? Well if not, A. Swayze & The Ghosts are doing their best to remind you with their debut album Paid Salvation.
The Australian rockers have finally released their first album after a string of impressive singles and have followed up on the hype with an accomplished sounding guitar record.
It’s a lot of fun, and in these increasingly depressing times in which we live, a fun guitar record is the perfect tonic for Covid-19.
That’s not to say that Paid Salvation is one-note or lacking in-depth, to the band’s credit the album has a distinctly positive tone to it as it tackles less than positive aspects of modern-day life.
This seems to be the bands greatest strength, mixing catchy distorted guitar riffs with astute social commentary.
Frontman Andrew Swayze has no problem taking aim at misogynists, dishonest politicians and the mass media all while delivering infectious melodies wrought with bite.
The record doesn’t take itself too seriously, however, more like it takes its subject matter seriously by airing a healthy dose of frustration and cynicism about the modern world.
It does so succinctly though, which is another of the album’s strengths. Clocking in at 39 minutes nothing feels unnecessary about Paid Salvation.
“It really shits me off when bands have this pedestal and they have the ability to influence so much around them and they waste it by singing about stupid shit. If you’re given this audience, I think you have to have something to say. And I definitely intend on abusing that right.” – Frontman Andrew Swayze
The album moves along quickly never overstaying its welcome, but equally hanging around long enough to make its point. The guitar tone on the album is absolutely fantastic.
Remaining fuzzed-up while also cutting through the mix you’ll be whistling along to guitar riffs on Paid Salvation long before the songs have even finished.
Lyrically Andrew Swayze is definitely in contention for some of the most engaging lines of the year.
The simple anthemic chorus ‘We must connect to consume’ will undoubtedly find it’s way onto t-shirts and several social media posts, perhaps somewhat ironically given the bands apparent disdain for what the internet has done to their generation ‘We’re anxious, too anxious.’
Opener It’s Not Alright takes on the issue of consent with disarmingly to the point lyrics.
It shouldn’t be shocking to hear a band consisting of four white men singing ‘she don’t wanna’ and ‘it’s not alright, it’s not okay’ and one level it isn’t.
But on the other hand, it is refreshing to hear a male rock band tackle the issue head-on and with the right level of empathy and understanding, whilst also crafting a great tune.
Whilst it isn’t an achievement in its own right, of all the things A. Swayze & The Ghosts could have chosen to open their debut album with, they chose a song tackling consent and misogyny, showing how strongly they feel about it and hopefully educating some rock music fans along the way.
The band showcase their lyrical diversity on single ‘Mess of Me’ which broaches the subject of domestic monotony whilst still sounding like a bar-band playing a gig on a Friday night.
‘Daddy’s got himself a new scheme, he needs a win baby, mummy’s layin’ back drinkin’ gin, she’s gonna leave maybe’ is a fantastically written line that sums up the tone of the album and the wry intelligence with which band have crafted their socially conscious lyrics.
Overall, Paid Salvation proved to be a really pleasant surprise.
A. Swayze & The Ghosts revel in well-established rock n roll troupes but also put their own spin on them crafting a clean and fresh sounding guitar record, which in 2020 is easier said than done. Pick up your copy from their website here.
