In 2020, the much-anticipated return of The Ghost Inside – in the wake of their devastating bus crash, five years earlier – was scuppered by a global pandemic and the frustration of not being able to fully enjoy the release of their self-titled record. But instead of wallowing in self pity, in true TGI fashion, they rolled with the punches and got to work on their next project.
On the eve of their sixth studio album, Searching For Solace, vocalist Jonathan Vigil and drummer Andrew Tkaczyk join us from the States discuss everything from the band's ongoing evolution, getting to the next level, making steps towards being more honest and why this might be their most deeply personal record yet.
You see, Searching For Solace is The Ghost Inside very much keeping to their blueprint of uplifting, pummelling hardcore anthems, but they’ve also ventured into more melodic tones, while lyrically tackling the darkness that can come with the delicate nature of the human mind.
“We've always been a band that's had a really positive outlook and overcoming adversity kind of vibes,” admits Vigil. “That's still a core ethos of the band – and that's never going to change – but this record is like the first time we really explored the alternative, like, what if things are too much? What if you start to lose a little bit of your sanity?
“For me, thankfully, I’ve never had to deal with any sort of mental health issues. But during the pandemic it affected me so much; being stuck inside every single day doing the same thing over and over again. I think this record is really exploring like the outer limits of the mind for the first time, because there's twists and turns, and ups and downs. Anywhere you go in life, it’s never just a linear path.”