Labels: Larry Records/Vamonos Records/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital
Release Date: 28 Sep 2026
Tracklist:
1. Chrysalis
2. Specter of Sisyphus
3. Shadow Reality - Descent Into the Cave
4. Panoptic Singularity
5. Black Knight Satellite
6. Crux Upon the Acropolis
7. Fire in a Madhouse at the End of Time
8. Necropolis (ark)ology
There was a brief moment a few days ago where I thought that things were going to quieten down on the day-job front, but I was wrong. It's gonna be busier than ever (partly self-inflicted!). This isn't my sounding board though, I must remember that. What it is, is the place where I get to share something of a screamo supergroup.
US band Ghola released their debut album Aeon in late September. I try my best not to do this usually but I want to mention the bands that lend their members to Ghola, because they're all excellent and they are; Bleached Cross, Crowning, Frail Body, Greed Worm, Inosuke, Itto, Lord Snow, Oaktails and Stormlight (and breath...). The album was released on single-sided vinyl, on CD and digitally via Larry Records, Vamonos Records and Zegema Beach Records.
If ever there was an intro sample on an album that speaks to just how insane the world currently is, it would be the one that opens ‘Chrysalis’. The line “escape before it’s too late” struck a chord that I wasn’t expecting and what follows is equally as devastating. Raging emo-violence/screamo with furious vocals and ethereal instrumental passages, all in the space of around ninety seconds. The single-sided nature of the vinyl pressing makes complete sense when there’s nothing even resembling a pause between ‘Chrysalis’ and ‘Specter of Sisyphus’. What is stark though is the difference between the two songs. ‘Specter of Sisyphus’ swings between atmospheric post-hardcore dreaminess and off-kilter chaos. It’s layered in such a cool way as well, which I can’t really explain.
‘Shadow Reality - Descent Into the Cave’ veers in a different direction too; from opposing time-signatures and chaos, to nostalgic emo melodies and spoken-word vocals. It goes a long way in quite a short space of time. Music is what you make of it and as lines get continually blurred thanks to the creativity of musicians, and songwriters, the predictability disappears. ‘Panoptic Singularity’ is a case in point, as it’s born out of the previous song but it’s totally different in approach and feel. Sounding like an instrumental interlude at first before growing in dissonance and intensity. It’s quite a spectacle actually.
The mathiness is real on ‘Black Knight Satellite’ but also so are the art-rock/emo sensibilities. Ghola even throw in some guitar melodies that sound a lot like they come from a keytar, which is a great touch. The more I hear of this album the more it slaps! If you’re not a fan of the harsher side of screamo/emoviolence, I reckon you’ll dig this. I love dynamics on ‘Crux Upon The Acropolis’, where Ghola moves quickly between fast and slower parts, leaving very little time for them to truly land. It’s a relatively short song but that doesn’t matter at all.
Penultimate song ‘Fire in a Madhouse at the End of Time’ is an 80’s video game laid against a backdrop of horror and cosmic noise. That description sounded a lot less pretentious in my head but oh well, I’m not changing it now! Closing with ‘Necropolis (ark)ology’ is the last chance for Ghola to deliver their more metallic, post-hardcore sound and amongst the gang-like vocals, they give the gift of one final grand blast. It’s a shame that Aeon has to end here, but its impact hits harder because it does.
Ghola have done a great job with this album and dropping it in the latter-half of 2026 is bound to disrupt anybody whose writing their AOTY lists already.
You can stream and purchase Aeon digitally via ZBR's bandcamp page below:-
Ghola Instagram - @ghola_violence
It's also available digitally from Larry Records here - https://larry187.bandcamp.com/album/aeon.
Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-
Larry Records - https://larryrecordsisagang.bigcartel.com/product/ghola-12in-single-sided
Vamonos Records - https://www.vamonosrecords.com/product/ghola-aeon
Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/ghola
Zegema Beach Records U.S.A. - https://persistentvisionrecords.com/products/ghola-aeon
Larry Records Instagram - @larryrecords187
Vamonos Records Instagram - @vamonosrecords
Zegema Beach Records Instagram - @zegema_beach