Released 10 years ago this October
Only Ghosts
Red Fang · 2016
41 min · 10 tracks · stoner rock
A heavy blend of sludgy riffs and rhythmic grooves punctuated by dark, introspective lyrics that evoke a haunting atmosphere.
Top tracks — play these first
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Flies — Opening the album with a gritty intensity, this track sets the tone for the rest of the record through its powerful riffs and relentless pace.
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Cut It Short — This track features a catchy chorus paired with hard-hitting instrumentals that exemplify the band's signature blend of melody and heaviness.
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I Am a Ghost — With its haunting lyrics and heavy instrumentation, this track encapsulates the album’s exploration of isolation and existentialism, standing out for its emotional weight.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production while exploring darker themes within the stoner rock genre.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature heavy, sludgy guitar riffs that establish a consistent mid-tempo groove.
- Tracks five through seven introduce more complex arrangements with layered instrumentation and varying dynamics.
- The album closes with two tracks that slow the tempo significantly, creating a somber atmosphere that contrasts with the earlier energy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- playful absurdity in heavy riffs
- short bursts of energetic chaos
- headbanging anthems for gatherings
- dynamic shifts in intensity
- late-night revelry with friends
Maybe skip if you
- prefer soothing, calm sounds
- seek lengthy, immersive narratives
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Only Ghosts is Red Fang's fourth studio album, released after their critically acclaimed album Whales and Leeches in 2013. By this point, they had solidified their presence in the stoner rock scene and were exploring darker themes while refining their sound.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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The Smell of the Sound
A pivotal verse confronts feelings of disillusionment directly, shifting from introspection to an urgent call for clarity amidst chaos.
This moment's abrupt shift from reflective to assertive captures the internal conflict that defines much of the album's lyrical landscape.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Flies 3:37
- 2 Cut It Short 4:11
- 3 Flames 1:30
- 4 No Air 4:52
- 5 Shadows 3:11
- 6 Not for You 3:19
- 7 The Smell of the Sound 5:23
- 8 The Deep 4:27
- 9 I Am a Ghost 4:08
- 10 Living in Lye 6:19
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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