November 2015 changed the lives of each member of The Ghost Inside forever. While out on tour their tour bus was involved in a head on collision with an 18-wheeler. As a result the drivers of the tour bus and 18-wheeler were killed and the entire band, pictured above, and their crew had severe injuries and had to be rushed to the hospital. After a ten day coma and multiple surgeries drummer, Andrew Tkaczyk, had to have his right leg amputated just above the knee. To took years of healing and rehab for most of the members to be able to walk on their own again let alone even think about playing live shows. In April of 2018 the band had their first practice since the tragic accident and confirmed that "yes, there is a future" for the band.
Well that future is here with the first new song since 2015 in the first single Aftermath. I was extremely excited to hear this song because it has been 5 years in the making and has so much meaning behind it. The song can be summed up in one lyric, "Triumph Over Tragedy". This song has the classic melodic sound that we have come to love from TGI and hits hard when vocalist Jonathan Vigil ushers in a hard hitting breakdown with "triumph over tragedy". The lyrics outline the story of the band dealing and working through the hard and difficult times of rehabbing and the mental tole that took on them. The song ends with Vigil singing which beautifully intertwines him screaming "the beat goes on". That final sequence shows and gives hope that no matter how hard a situation you are in, it will get better and you will continue on stronger than ever before.
The music video is very powerful. As someone who has followed the bands tragic accident and staying up to date on how they were doing via social media I was very excited to hear the song as well as see the music video. What I was not ready for was the last part of the video. They show pictures and videos of what it was like for them over the last 5 years. It hits the emotions in a way that I did not expect. Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red did a reaction video to it and the emotions he expresses in that video sums up what I think a lot of people, including myself, felt while watching and hearing that video for the first time.
The Ghost Inside is back and we have all been waiting and cheering them on for this moment over the last 5 years.
