By looking at the band name you will know around who this band is based. Gaahl. The demon from Gorgoroth and God Seed. A lot of (previous) band members from the God Seed band has been performing live and recording with Gaahls Wyrd. The first thing we heard from Gaahls Wyrd was weirdly enough a live album called ‘Bergen Nov ‘15’. There were only covers on this live album from Trelldom and God Seed. Nothing to look forward to music wise but the fact that a bunch of legends in the Norwegian black metal scene have come together to make something like a supergroup, was a pleasant surprise. There were some line-up changes after the ‘Bergen Nov ‘15’ live album but in 2019 the band put out their own music in the form of two singles, ‘Ghost Invited’ and ‘From The Spear’ through the mighty Seasons Of Mist. 2 months later, ‘Gastir, Ghosts Invited’ was released.

 

So, pretty much everything Gaahl touches turn into black metal gold. My expectations are really high for this release. The first few notes have been bringing me back to the God Seed era. The deep, scary, haunting vocals of Gaahl has been in my head days after listening to this record. Gaahl is putting all of his vocal techniques into this album. Even new techniques I haven’t heard him do for a long time. The demanding screams are a pleasant surprise in the whole new sounding mix of this new band around him.

 

The whole album can be said to be upbeat but still very melodic. I adore the vocal-style changes Gaahl throw’s in now and then. Not much is left of the screaming suffering goat Gaahl was in Gorgoroth which seems he threw away after Gorgoroth but also a bit after God Seed. But after the God Seed album ‘I Begin’, Gaahl seemed to venture into more different vocal style and he feels comfortable putting it to use in Gaahls Wyrd. The heavy but still very haunting vocals give the whole album an eerie layer to it.

 

The songs on the album can be listened to separately. What I mean by that is that ‘Gastir, Ghosts Invited’ isn’t a concept album. But should you? Out of respect for the band you need to listen to it front to back. Yes it has some weird surprises however if you’re a little bit open minded like me, you will learn to love this album. It is upbeat, fun, surprising and interesting to listen to.