The Ghost Inside: Resilience, Reinvention and the Road Ahead
The Ghost Inside’s bassist Jim Riley talks with The Note about the band’s creative direction, the grind of life on the road and the emotional weight behind their latest record, Searching for Solace.
Words Isaac Selby // Image supplied
In the ever-evolving world of heavy music, few bands have weathered change as powerfully as The Ghost Inside. After over a decade together, marked by tragedy, triumph and transformation, the Los Angeles metalcore veterans are showing that evolution doesn’t mean losing your identity. It just means leaning deeper into who you are.
The Note caught up with bassist Jim Riley ahead of their long-awaited return to Australia for a run of headline shows this October, their first visit since touring with Parkway Drive last year. Chatting from home after wrapping a run of European festivals and a US tour with Volbeat and Halestorm, Riley is relaxed, candid and full of insights about the band’s creative direction, the grind of life on the road and the emotional weight behind their latest record Searching for Solace.
Coming off a tour supporting Volbeat and Halestorm – acts better known for their radio-ready rock than metalcore – The Ghost Inside have found themselves enjoying shaking things up and playing to a different kind of crowd.
“Those bands are very radio rock, kind of butt rock in the best way possible,” Riley laughs. “I think we fit with them more than people would expect, but it’s definitely a different audience. I think we might have introduced a lot of people to their first-ever breakdown.”
The term “butt rock” is one of those oddball genre labels that often gets thrown around, but what does it actually mean?
“I feel like it might be a distinctly American genre,” Riley says. “It’s not pop, but it’s definitely not metal. Nickelback is sort of the ultimate butt rock band. You listen to them and go, ‘Damn, this is groovy,’ but it’s also really straightforward. Your dad who rides a motorcycle probably loves it.”
Riley reckons part of what defines that sound is its accessibility. “You’re never going to get a screamed chorus in a Nickelback or Creed song,” he adds. “But you might get similar chord progressions to a Ghost Inside or Amity Affliction track. It just might not have quite the same edge.”
If their self-titled 2020 record was about giving fans the comeback they'd waited years for, Searching for Solace sets the scene for what comes next.
“When we made that self-titled record, we didn’t take many risks. We wanted to give people what they expected,” Riley said. “But with Searching for Solace, we felt free to try new things. It’s more modern, more honest.”
For a band that’s no stranger to hardship – from surviving a life-threatening bus crash in 2015, to navigating the pandemic just after their return – the lyrical tone of the new album reflects how a mixture of gratitude and doubt was coexisting in their lives.
“We had weddings, we had kids, we had these massive highs in our lives. But they were happening alongside all this uncertainty,” Riley says. “This record reflects that. There’s still hope in there, but we didn’t feel like we had to inject it into every single track.”
The band’s creative leap was partly influenced by their time spent on tour with Aussie metalcore superstars Parkway Drive. Riley points to a backstage chat with frontman Winston McCall as a turning point musically for the band.
“Winston said to me, ‘Whatever you do, just be bold. If you love the music, and you show that, your fans will love it too,’” Riley recalls. “He told us to give people more credit and that fans of this genre don’t just listen to one thing. They’ve got Cannibal Corpse, New Found Glory and Justin Bieber on the same playlist. So make music you love – they’ll get it.”
It’s advice they took to heart. Tracks like ‘Wash It Away’, which features clean vocals and a more melodic structure, wouldn’t have made the cut a few years ago.
“We would’ve said, ‘That’s not Ghost Inside enough’ and shelved it,” Riley says. “But we love that song. Why wait two more albums to put it out? Let’s do it now. If (Jonathan) Vigil is yelling over a low-tuned guitar, it’s going to sound like us no matter what.”
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These days, life on the road looks a bit different for The Ghost Inside. Older, wiser and more physically aware, they’ve swapped the chaos of early tours for a band ecosystem that’s a little easier to manage.
“When we were younger, we were living right at the edge of what was sustainable. Not quite over the line, but close,” Riley admits. “Now, it’s frozen margaritas after the show and stretch bands in the green room (laughs).”
The band also builds more recovery time into their schedules – fewer back-to-back shows, healthier food and a realistic approach to physical limits.
“Back in the day, if we had 30 days in Europe, we’d find a way to play 32 shows. Now, it’s three days on, one day off. The recovery is slower. Vigil and I are in our forties; the other guys are in their late thirties. We’ve just learned how to manage it better.”
Alongside his role as The Ghost Inside’s bassist, Riley is often involved with the lyrical process, taken by sparks of inspiration while touring on the road.
“I’ve got a note in my phone full of one-liners and concepts. Two or three songs on the last record started from those,” he says.
‘Wrath’ is one such example. “I had this line – ‘a thread on every side’ – and the guys hit me up while they were in the studio. They were fried, out of ideas. So I took that phrase and started putting together the rest. Sent it through, and they were like, ‘This is great. Keep going.’”
Other tracks, like ‘Death Grip’ and the atmospheric ‘Cityscape’, also came from spontaneous sparks. ‘Cityscape’ was written the day the band found out Vigil’s father had passed away – while they were in Brisbane on tour with Parkway Drive.
“Andrew (Tkaczyk) had started playing this moody guitar part, and Vigil just disappeared for a bit. Came back with a full set of lyrics. It was one of those moments,” Riley said.
As they begin working on their next record, the band are holding onto the lessons they’ve learned – both creatively and personally.
“We feel freed by the success of the last album. We’ve realised that as long as what we’re doing is honest, our fans will come along for the ride,” Riley says. “Whether it’s the happiest song or the angriest, if it’s true to us, it’ll connect.”
The Ghost Inside’s journey has been one of resilience and reinvention, but at every stage, they’ve stayed grounded in what matters most to the band – purpose, power and honesty.
“You can only smash someone in the face with so many breakdowns before you say, ‘Let’s take a beat,’” Riley grins. “But if you love what you’re doing, people will feel that. And that’s what keeps us going.”
Catch The Ghost Inside playing at The Gov on Tuesday 21 October 21 with special guests Bleed From Within + Day of Contempt. Tickets on sale now via oztix.com.au.
