LOVE GHOST GETS EXPERIMENTAL WITH EMO RAP AND STADIUM ROCK IN NEW LP ‘GAS MASK WEDDING’

Genre hybridity is among a modern artist’s most powerful tools. The element of surprise can exceed audience expectations, branching into new demographics just by experimenting authentically. For Love Ghost, this means combining emo rap with 90s grunge or surprising audiences with a piano ballad. Their LP, Gas Mask Wedding, encourages audiences to leave any preconceived notions of what they might hear at the door—Love Ghost has completely shattered all potential biases simply via writing about their lived experiences. This is one of the most exciting releases of 2025, and there hasn’t been a shortage of fantastic music put out this year. Gas Mask Wedding positions itself as more than a hidden gem. Its creative integrity suggests an upcoming breakthrough for the group, especially if they continually confront any creative comfort zones they may possess.

Typically, Love Ghost’s songs are surrounded by a relationship-based framework. They allegorically chronicle heartbreaking experiences; however, it’s evident that there’s more to it upon a deeper listen. After putting my literary analyst hat on, I realized that the relationship stories were merely Love Ghost’s method of expressing much deeper wounds. Sure, these might have been based on real breakups or tumultuous interpersonal conflicts. Still, the ongoing theme within Gas Mask Wedding is a candid struggle with mental health. Seemingly, Love Ghost knows how to make these deeply personal feelings more relatable by using anecdotal evidence to prove his points. This is shown as early as track 2, when they say, “my heart is made of paper machet.” The rhyme schemes aren’t contrived, but that’s not the most impressive aspect of Love Ghost’s lyrics. Instead, their candor suggests an emotionally vulnerable narrator who doesn’t mind admitting his faults.

Namely, the self-awareness throughout Gas Mask Wedding deviates far away from typical emo rap lyricism. The “greats” of the genre do have an introspective focus, but it’s typically more self-depricating and victimizing. Love Ghost doesn’t do any of this; there’s an admittance of guilt, however, it’s reflective rather than seeking any sort of empathy from whoever may have been hurt by them. The group has evidently been undergrowing a lot of personal growth throughout the record’s creative process, as expressed in “A Message From Finn.” The singer suggests that the record was halted mid-recording, and he was dealing with some serious issues behind-the-scenes. Breaking the fourth wall might have come across as unnecessary or pandering for attention. Thankfully, Finn only emphasizes his naturally candid self-expression. It’s refreshing that he doesn’t hold back.

Lyrical narrators tend to position themselves as the heroes or victims in their stories, even if they fall out of the “emo rap” category. Love Ghost achieves a nice balance; where they sometimes state Finn as the perpetrator of hurt, he is also hurt by others. His breakup is detailed heavily throughout the record, and he doesn’t really blame his ex throughout. It evidently left a scar, and he’s still able to have a sense of humor about it, like in the “Hair Dye” interlude. The exchange between Finn, his ex, and their new partner allows Finn to humanize himself while knowing how and when to take a joke. His delivery is hilarious, as if he’s had acting practice before…or the scars from the real-life events were still raw upon recording. Poking fun at his experiences this way must have been nothing short of cathartic. Plus, the interlude acted as a fantastic transition into the record’s second half.

There are multiple collaborative tracks throughout the LP, including The Skinner Brothers and more. Each one fits its track perfectly, a complementary addition to the album’s core. The record is a bit lyrically dense, so offering verses by other artists grants listeners a break from the rest of its narration. Of course, Gas Mask Wedding’s focus remains on storytelling. Employing the assistance of fellow musicians grants the storyline depth, purpose, and more imaginative craftsmanship. Truthfully, much of the LP feels more like reading a novel based on someone’s diary. This is among traditional emo conventions, where confessional lyricism hooks listeners thanks to its relatability. By featuring artists like Zach Goode or Reverie, Love Ghost grants their narrative more dimension. The inclusion of Goode specificallyl renders “Sand Castles” among the strongest tracks in the record. It sounds completely different from much of it, likely thanks to Goode’s powerful hair-adjacent range.

Many emo rap artists have attempted what Love Ghost achieved in Gas Mask Wedding. Honestly, the records deviates so far away from emo rap conventionality that audiences should accept its influence as merely an underscore. There are shredder guitar solos, piano ballads, and good ol’ fashioned grunge. Love Ghost asserts that sonic possibilities are endless for artists daring enough to go the distance. This was my first experience listening to the band, and I am honestly a newly-converted fan. These kinds of records are what get me excited as a journalist. There is always more to create and achieve as musicians; we are lucky to exist at such a special time musically. Artists like Love Ghost showcase not only limitless creative possibilities, but potential.