Roam Like Ghosts CHURCH (Album Review)
Roam Like Ghosts CHURCH (Album Review)

Ready to get into strong and haunting Americana? Roam Like Ghosts got you.

Roam Like Ghosts is an acoustic trio blending alternative, indie, folk, and some mix of country genres that strike you emotionally and sonically. The band was formed in 2017 by singer-songwriter Virginia Mathew Daugherty and guitarist-songwriter Bucky Fairfax from North Carolina. Later, in 2018, they added bassist Bobby DeRosa.

In previous releases, including Yesterday and the Day Before from 2017 and …to that place you call home from 2021, Roam Like Ghosts created an immense space for introspection with haunting and reflective sounds, filled with the poetic exploration of life’s emotional struggles that deeply resonate with listeners.

If you immerse yourself in their discography, you’ll see how their evolution involves their acoustic roots with an easy and masterful blend of the warm sounds of Americana. However, don’t count them out when it comes to the rawness and emotional depth of alternative rock. Especially on their last two records, their shows create an immersive experience that brings light, sadness, and coziness all in one. I genuinely love how they can easily give you that soothing presence on their tracks while being direct and raw with their emotional energy.

However, let’s see how the third album Church, continues its roots and if it still delves into these aspects of self-reflection and transformation with blockbuster and atmospheric production.

Yes, yes, and one more time—yes.


The Roam Like Ghosts’ new record starts simply strong and straightforward, with direct lines that instantly get you going into this energetic yet introspective sound.

I really like how, throughout the album, the band sticks to the guitar soundscape so easily and magnificently that it feels seamless in how dominant the instrument is on the record. The record isn’t afraid of being gruesome or melancholic at times, for example, with a hefty “The Weight,” which sheds light on the emotional concept of weight, signalling that there is always weight that brings us down.

With such a dedication to the immersive and introspective sound this album gives us, it’s surprising that from time to time, the band easily demonstrates examples of energetic and dynamic songs. For instance, “Death and Me” or “Causal Conversations About Serious Situations” both feel as intense as the chord progressions on these tracks. Honestly, it’s mind-blowing how Roam Like Ghosts creates such a powerful, personal, and quite universal feeling during a short 40-minute, 10-track run.

These songs can easily explore love, hope, and transformation and sometimes make the listener reflect on something they heard, enhancing the album’s overall replayability. With each listen, the album feels closer and closer to you emotionally, whether it’s the rawness of the vocalist or the haunting sound that simply pursues you till the end of the song. These intimate feelings created by this album truly demonstrate how acoustic-driven albums can still bring that alternative edge to storytelling.

On the record, you frequently jump from one rock and Americana influence to another. Whether it’s folk and indie on “Blame Game” or a more upbeat rock ‘n’ roll mix on “Death and Me,” this band can do it all. On Church, they continue this journey of self-awareness, presenting such a well-crafted and cohesive release.

Score/Excellent. It’s simply an amazing project that screams good quality from all sides. Whether it’s the captivating influences of Americana music or the introspective lyrics, Roam Like Ghosts truly reaches the best of what they’ve done before and transforms it into something grand.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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