From the moment you hit play on the Ghost Hounds’ new album Justified (out now via Maple House Records), it’s apparent they are a talented band. The vocals are nothing short of prodigious; the licks are precise, and the production is polished, if not sterile. Ultimately, that last bit is why this album falls short of the band’s notable potential.
It’s not easy to cover the Stones, especially a song as treaded as “Gimme Shelter,” but the band deliver a compelling rendition, highlighted by the soaring vocal accompaniment of Chanel Haynes. The band succumb to the undeniable groove of the song, allowing them to shake off a bit of the aforementioned sterility and deliver some real swagger.
Back-to-back mid-album cuts “Pale Horse” and “Going Down” show a little bit more of the grit the band is capable of, bringing in some more of that Stones and Black Crowes stomp. Ultimately, they feel like a band capable of creating a masterwork, if they can shut out the industry expectations, scuff up the sheen, and just let it rip.
