Spirit Ghost tackles modernity’s plagues with stripped-down single “Dungeon Crawler”
Having cemented themselves as New England’s premiere psych rock staple, Spirit Ghost returns with the unexpected in their latest single “Dungeon Crawler.” The track explores themes of modern woes, with references to kitchen-dwelling rats and candlelit nights to stave off absurdly high electricity bills. Out of the described darkness rises a pivot for the group as they shed electric guitars and move into a stripped-down sound.
Frontman Alex Whitelaw sat down with us to discuss the new single and the group’s next endeavor with upcoming EP “Dark Magic.”
YLM: Your imagery is so vivid in “Dungeon Crawler” - definitely a Halloween motif here. What are some of your favorite horror stories/tropes to inform your lyricism?
SG: I always like when people are corrupted by evil forces. My favorite horror movies are Rosemary's Baby, The Wailing, The Thing, From Beyond, any movie that pits human beings against supernatural forces is very fun for me. I also had just been watching a lot of horror this past year and some of it just seemed to naturally seep in.
YLM: This is a separate single from your previous LP release and the first off a forthcoming EP “Dark Magic.” Can we expect some of the same haunting vibes throughout?
SG: I think so, I don't think I ever intend to make things dark, or haunting things, but it seems to be what my brain is destined to gravitate towards. I kind of landed on this medieval, occult motif without really thinking about it.
YLM: “Dungeon Crawler” is notably unplugged compared to other Spirit Ghost work - there are no electric guitars present and the listener is drawn in, instead, by the classic reverb and effects the band is known for. What made you go in this direction for the EP?
SG: I had limitations with how I recorded the demos for this most recent round of songs. I only had an acoustic guitar handy, which made me be a lot more deliberate in how I write parts, and melodies. It was important to me that these songs work with just guitar, drums, bass, and vocals. Joey (Distasio) and I would go to add a lead, or some other instrument where previously there hadn't been one and every time we'd be disgusted with it. It just felt good to keep these songs really simple.
YLM: Much of Spirit Ghost’s discography focuses on modernity and one’s place in its shakiness. What is your process for balancing relatability with personal anecdotes in these tracks? What do you hope your audiences take away from the commentary?
SG: I don't know, I don't even really know what I'm saying until way later, then I realize there is some kind of nugget of meaning tucked away in a lyric somewhere. I just know sometimes I feel really low, or useless, or powerless, I don't go into any song feeling like I will talk about any of that, but it seems like some sliver of my personal experience slips its way in there every time.
YLM: As you enter this slightly stripped back EP cycle, how do you expect live shows to adapt? What are you most excited for when debuting these tracks?
SG: I honestly think these songs translate better live than 95% of my discography, because they're so simple, part of me can't believe someone else didn't write them already.
Listen to “Dungeon Crawler” across streaming platforms now.
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