New War

New War "Ghostwalking" 12" Fast Weapons 2011

New War would have you believe a lot if you bothered to look at their press release for their debut recording “Ghostwalking.” For one, they would have you believe that their pedigree as former members of the Kill Rock Stars band Shoplifting would merit a listen alone. I have never really paid any heed to the idea that a band is good because they have former members of good, or even great, bands; if that was the case I would be celebrating the discographies of bands like Junkyard, The Joykiller, or Jello Biafrra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine… And I certainly am not.

Not withstanding their time spent in previous projects proved fruitful in helping them share the stage with bands like the Gossip, of whom took notice and released “Ghostwalking” on Gossip guitar maniac Nathan Howdoshell’s Fast Weapons imprint. Featuring one lone song, remixed by HTRX, as well as Gossip, New War present a sound that is hypnotic, built on repetition, without becoming boring.

I find it interesting that they tend to focus on the haunting nature of the sound, as well as the guest remixes in marketing the song more than the fact that the record itself is a document of a band sure of themselves enough to create a subtle, restrained sound where each instrument only add to the melancholic yet bellowing vocals delivery.

While the remixes provide a very danceable vibe, the New War track in and of itself is not really a dance tune, but a call for all those walking towards the light; truth be told “Ghostwalking” is a perfect name for this track both as a title and a descriptive.