Legend's Ghost - Gatekeepers

Legend's Ghost

Gatekeepers
self-released; 2014

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

I started listening to Gatekeepers by Legend's Ghost and I thought the introduction was to a cheesy ‘80s sci-fi movie. I thought ok this is a little bit weird but I can handle this. I’ll admit I wasn’t prepared for what would later come in that track or the next nine tracks. I’m getting a bit ahead of myself so let’s start at the beginning.

Legend's Ghost is a concept album project by composer Cherelle-Renée Childs. Childs writes the music and then finds people from various countries, cultures, and musical backgrounds to record it. That sounds ambitious and expensive but interesting at least. 

The music is all over the place not just from song to song but also within each song. She combines symphonic metal with electronica and ethnic percussion, and covers it in a whimsical veil of magic. That’s really only half of it. The other half is her singing style. She sounds like someone you would hear singing in play. At times she reminded me of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.” I could visualize her hand gestures as she was singing to the aristocrats in a theatre built in the early 19th century.

The music isn’t really catchy. In fact I can’t imagine singing any of this in the shower. What she doesn’t have in infectious pop she makes up with in eccentric qualities that fans of Medieval Times and fans of Heavy Metal (the movie) will appreciate.

The first track “The Reason Why” really needs to have some sort of visual aide along with it; some sort of lo-fi video where knights are stumbling in the magic forest of the mystics or maybe someone’s basement. Don’t hesitate just make the video. It doesn’t get much more whimsical than on  “The Full Moon at Midnight.” The wind instruments reminded me of “World of Warcraft” while the guitar could be a lute if I closed my eyes.

I think you already might know what to expect from “The Portal.” Well you might not but it sounds as if you are being marched straight into the king’s quarters and then you are suddenly surrounded by the knights of Templar who are speaking tongues. You can’t escape. What the hell is going on?

I have to appreciate this effort if for nothing else its blatant disregard for popular music. I’m not sure how often I will be spinning this record but I will definitely recommend it for those who are into live action role-playing and those who stay up at night wishing they were a wizard.

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