Album Review: Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace (Nuclear Blast Records)

Depressive black metallers’ Ghost Bath have emerged from beyond the veil with their new album, ‘Rose Thorn Necklace’, through long-time partner Nuclear Blast. Out on May 9th, 2025.

I genuinely think that Ghost Bath will never be able to top their 2017 album, ‘Self Loather‘ was a good album, it didn’t quite have the same longevity. ‘Starmourner’ is just special, the perfect showcase of depressive blackgaze and how creative Ghost Bath could be, but that’s not to say this new album isn’t highly impressive too. In fact, it’s fair to say that it’s the best Ghost Bath album since Starmourner, which when you consider what I’ve just said about that album, is high praise indeed.

It’s a new direction for Ghost Bath, free from the Moonlover/Starmourner/Self Loather conceptual trilogy, and while the melancholic aspects of the band are kept front and centre, it is interesting to hear them lean more towards black metal than ever before. This is all evident within the torturous title track, where the rawness overshadows all, and a lot is packed into four-ish minutes. This, following a very dramatic and atmospheric intro called Grotesque Display, which is pretty awesome sounding.

As the album goes on, its identity becomes clearer. What we have is a fairly relentless showcase of black metal blended with heart-wrenching melody and covered with a thick layer of atmosphere. Which might sound so very Ghost Bath, except this is rawer, more experimental, and tighter. Only one track es the five-minute mark, and that’s only by a few seconds. Yet, it doesn’t mean there aren’t epics. Well, I Tried Drowning is one such track that packs a hefty punch in less than four and a half minutes.

Sometimes though, you just want to sink into something so melancholic and so pretty, and Ghost Bath rarely fail to deliver on that front. Causing a surge of emotions with Thinly Sliced Heart Muscle, before delivering a measured blast of blackened noise with Dandelion Tea. Choppy rhythms playing off sharp melody and capped off with vocals that alternate between high screeches and deep, guttural howls. It has got familiar Ghost Bath touches, but it’s also like nothing else they’ve done before.

It’s the kind of creative thinking anyone can get behind, and the following Vodka Butterfly is certainly creative. Who would have thought we’d be hearing EDM-style effects in a Ghost Bath song? It’s a frenzied listen, and likely to polarise. Whereas Stamen and Pistil is filled with heightened drama, assaulting the senses with a cacophony of heavy instruments, twisted melody, and those ‘oh so classic’ Nameless vocal screeches. These two tracks are all the proof you need of the changing face of Ghost Bath.

It is an enjoyable album, but you must be open-minded about the direction Ghost Bath are going in. Thankfully, it’s not so egregiously different that it’s a difficult challenge, and there are plenty of familiar elements. Least of all, the over-arching ‘depressive’ vein that has cinematic elements, ala the penultimate track, Needles, and the powerful finale of Throat Cancer.

Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace Track Listing:

1. Grotesque Display
2. Rose Thorn Necklace
3. Well, I Tried Drowning
4. Thinly Sliced Heart Muscle
5. Dandelion Tea
6. Vodka Butterfly
7. Stamen and Pistil
8. Needles
9. Throat Cancer

Links

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