Ghost In The Machine - Broken From Binary (CD Album - Ghost In The Machine)

By Inferno Sound Diaries May 14,2016

Genre/Influences: Industrial-rock & electronic.

Background/Info: The duo Ghost In The Machine (GITM) has already been active for more than 20 years now. They've already released an impressive amount of productions, but the new album seems to be the first one since 2009.

Content: I got the opportunity to discover a few older songs of the band revealing kicking industrial sound evoking bands likeMinistry, KMFDM ao. The new work is a little bit different and definitely more into industrial-rock music mixed with electronic treatments. The sound became more rock-minded and less industrial, which I think is a pity.

The guitar playing is the main element of the sound. It injects power, but also moody passages. A few parts move towards metal influences, but globally speaking it remains pretty 'rock'-like. The songs have also been achieved by cool electronic sequences and effects. The vocal parts bring some enraged touch to the work, which totally fits with the production.

+ + + : The more explicit 'industrial' pieces definitely are the main strength of this work. I also like a few carrying choruses, which elevate the songs.

- - - : The album sounds maybe more 'personal' than previous releases, but I'm missing the harder industrial touch, which was referring to KMFDM ao. The album is missing a climax.

Conclusion: I can't say that "Broken From Binary" is not a good-album, but it sounds rather common and doesn't really bring anything new or exciting.

Best songs: What It Is", "Perfection".

Rate: (6).

Ghost in the Machine - Broken from Binary |self-released, 2015| 5/5

1. To Be Zero, 2. Crazy, 3. Estranged, 4. Lost, 5. What It Is, 6. Perfection, 7. Today is the Day, 8. Memories, 9. Hammers, 10. Samurai, 11. American Hero, 12. Feedback, 13. Drive, 14. Pressure (Billy Joel cover), 15. Time to Go Gently

The people behind Broken from Binary are a duo based in Florida, using the Ghost in the Machine moniker since 1996. We know them only by their stage names: Face (bass, programming, vocals) and C4 (vocals, guitar, programming).
The newest GITM's album brings over an hour of music that should definitely be checked out by fans of catchy cutting-edge industrial rock, metal and pop - but avid video gamers, too. Purists however, need to open their minds to enjoy the surprising concept better. The arrangements don't often repeat within a composition, but veer off into unexpected directions, as if based on bridges mostly rather than a traditional rock song structure. Therefore, expect your ears and brainwaves to be challenged frequently with this release. Here comes music dripping with seriousness, intelligence, groove, and sense of humor - all mixed together.

The album opener, 'To Be Zero', brings a lot of industrial rock references (think Gravity Kills and Die Krupps thanks to groovy bass lines and slightly mean yet seductive vocals as found in PIG's music), but that’s not all. The chorus includes a complete mood change - a nostalgic pop line you'd probably never expect to hear in a track based mostly on guitars & sampling. Once the chorus passes over, the heavy drumming gets back into the limelight.

'Crazy' and 'Drive' are comparable, since not only are they the two most coherent songs on the album overall, but also very rhythmic, even danceable. The arrangements in 'Crazy' are very well written, operating within a tight space for every instrument and vocals. The mood and tempo change at times to avoid repetitive monotony. 'Drive’' brings the industrial metal feel in vein of Rob Zombie's hit songs. The bass, guitars, and drums deliver pleasant heaviness and collaborate very well. Vocals and synths bring melodious lines in the chorus. Both tracks are potential hits, great for headbanging and stomping, and thus industrial/goth radio & dancefloor-friendly.
'Hammers' makes for a good match with the two aforementioned songs, but it adds sugared pop melodies and less tense arrangements.

'Estranged' and 'Samurai' let listeners take a break from high energy tracks thanks to a much slower tempo. The guitars are still heavy in 'Estranged' but the track seems to be mostly written to underline the lyrical content of the song. It sounds truly memorable with its anthem-esque vibe.

'Samurai' brings a nostalgic yet romantic feel. The lyrics tell a short dramatic story of an iconic Japanese warrior and his beloved woman who was killed due to a stealth attack while he was winning a war. Vocals sound extremely radio-friendly but the overall arrangements are not deprived of heavier moments. When you hear the ending verse: 'Now I pray for her' - James Hetfield's characteristic accent may come to mind.
The last track, 'Time to Go Gently', also brings a more delicate, almost a lullaby-like vibe - at least at start. Since GITM excels at musical surprises, the arrangements begin getting heavier in the second, then even more intense in the third part of the song - thanks to the increased tempo, the loud drum beat, and the imposition of angry, hateful vocals.

'Lost' brings a distinctive melodic line and mixes heavy and soft tunes. The arrangements fit perfectly into the overall composition, carrying a danceable, electro-music feel at times. Despite such repetitions, there are plenty of interesting irregularities to keep the track fresh for your ears.

'Today Is The Day' shows a skillful mix of alt-metal and electro sounds, through the nicely down-tuned guitar riffs with melodic choruses. The composition is somewhat complex and offers plenty of space for many different arrangements that don't interfere with the original leitmotif.

When 'What It Is' starts off with its synth lines, experienced listeners may second-guess what’s coming next - the song is going to explode with rhythm any second now. Surely enough, it does bring a lively groove and a lot of elements straight from pop. There's a big dose of fun as well, with additional gap fillers such as rock riffs or even a flute. It sounds like a great track for an anime, for listeners of all ages, ranging from little children to grey-haired elders.

In a similar fashion, 'Perfection' includes a plentiful dose of techno & EBM dynamics. Fans of KMFDM will feel at home thanks to a well known vocal effect and the method of aligning vocals with the beat. There's a great balance between verses and choruses - each appear at the right moment. This purely electronic song is another potential hit on the album.

'American Hero' also qualifies for that, thanks to its pop-disco rhythm and sound effects. It is a '2-in-1' composition though, built upon two matching parts which are then separated with a bit of silence halfway through the track. It may turn out to be popular in the movie or gaming industries thanks to its beat driven, memorable choruses.

GITM's original music is perhaps best represented by 'Memories'. It's a guitar driven track which is built upon a fast but not monotonous rhythm, melodious arrangements, and a dominating drum beat. On top of that, it clearly proves that not only can these musicians write twisted yet mature compositions but also apply a specific instrumentation through their craft. Vocals, bass and drums are such as mostly heard in metal music. The rhythm guitars match rock, whereas background synths are usually heard in pop and electro.

With so many songs on the tracklist it’s obvious that any smart band in a similar situation would challenge themselves to come up with a stand-out composition. Thus, the standard and the modern meet in 'Feedback'. At first, a classic hard rock reference (think Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd) may come to mind - GITM may have even used a Hammond organ in this one. Then, all of a sudden, a digitally beefed-up drum beat and modern rock/alt-metal vocals arrive. Fans of Nine Inch Nails won't go wrong with this track either, when they hear the unexpectedly fitting lines: 'Nothing, nothing, nothing will get me to testify / No way, no way, no way that you'll get me to lie'. This, along with characteristic guitar riffs and bass lines make for an unmistakable tribute to Trent Reznor's 90s music. The instrumental versatility, slow but still rocking tempo, and overall professional production make 'Feedback' an extremely memorable track.

Finally, a cover song. GITM have chosen 'Pressure' by Billy Joel, however their version is rather a close cousin of Joel's original despite the addition of a digitally improved beat, a bit of sampling and heavier guitars. It would be awesome to watch a smart video single accompanying this cover, that pointed out contemporary social pressures resulting in fear and frantic overreaction.

Broken from Binary is a well-thought out, masterfully executed, and highly entertaining cross-genre mash-up. Face and C4, blend several and typical sound effects or arrangements borrowed from trivial urban pop, chunky industrial dynamics, or vintage hard rock like true alchemists. The duo don't let themselves go astray in spite of utilizing a wide variety of different musical options, because their compositions are based on steady motifs. This technique remains the band's 'specialty of the house', whether it is an attempt to challenge their own song-writing skills, to please multi-subculture listeners, or to have ready-made arrangements for various commercial uses (ads, jingles, TV shows, video games, etc.) In fact, GITM have already successfully submitted music for a variety of major TV networks, brands and independent films.
The album's excellent audio production and mastering indicate that these musicians not only write and sell their music successfully, but can also provide other professional, studio-related services.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Music Magazine, December 22nd, 2015. Proofreading: Mike 'Vesper' Dziewonski)

By John Maycumber, WZNZ
Schizophrenic in a good way, CD shifts from cold electronica to raw metal like a wild mood swing. Good release: radio-friendly cuts. We are playing it.

By Station Manager
When we received our submission from "Ghost In The Machine" dubbed "GITM," which is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin - I was quite surprised. I was also excited, because I was charmed by the bands audio samples, and kept thinking - "ok, um send me some full length tracks, and lets hear whatcha got." I also thought the lead singer was um, well - he caught my eye. In a world of packaged rock bands, and cheesy press kits, GITM is one of those bands that stands out in the crowd, and delivers a dark thrill to this genre blend which is erotic, hardcore, and a hundred other things all woven together.

GITM’s music is classified by the band as "rocktronica or industrial," and at first I was a bit taken aback by the bands genre, and the fact it was coming from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (No disrespect, but I live in Kentucky and we aren’t exactly the mecca for industrial/rock either!) But, I digress….

Since listening to samples of GITM, I have downloaded all of their available albums from iTunes, and have created a playlist on my iPod which is now part of my daily commute to and from work. Yeah, I dig them. My indie music playlist has become so huge, that I am so grateful for this website and this job, because some of the best music I own is not available in a mainstream store. "GITM," starts with crunchy techno goth driven orchestrations, which combine with some fingerworkin’ guitar that makes for a cool ass sound. Vocals for the tracks are blown out into either electronic filters and/or raw voice tracks that come from vocalist "C4" (Chris Weerts), who reminds me of a New York Strip, and you know how much I love steak. ;) The band has a mixed look, which combined with some interesting talent for electronica/techno/goth/rock/metal blends - it’s quite original in a sense that you would never expect to hear this from a group so geographically stereotyped. Long live diversity!

Their single "The One You Love," from their album "The One Within" is one of my favorite tracks, which harbors a more upbeat lift to the singers darker rasps. C4 has this vocal range that perks my nipples, with the ability to belt out harmonics and melodics that work like audio-viagra to me. Ok, sorry - still thinking about that steak.

GITM is definately a must have for fans of the rocktronica/industrial fans, or fans of anyone who is hotter than hell (C4) or just fans of good music. This is one band to shove in your iPod and rock out with. After all, these farm boys know how to have a good time - and I wouldn’t mind rollin in the hay.

By Angela Monger
This is a band that hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their music is described as rocktronica. It's a mixture of rock and electronica with aspects of industrial as well. I checked out the CD and thought it was pretty damn cool stuff. Especially if you're a fan of industrial music as I am, you will definitely enjoy this CD. It's pulsating and at times has a Rob Zombie feel to it. They do a cool cover of ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" and definitely pull it off with their own style and feel to it. Sometimes electronica music can get a bit staid but these guys keep the listener's attention throughout the record and definitely experiment with various sounds.

By Catherine L. Tully
This Milwaukee band plays "rocktronica," a mixture of rock and electronica, although it is more than the sum of its parts. Right out of the box, the first track charges the listener with a kind of "tribal" sound in addition to the heavy metal feel, punctuated with electronic pulses. The lyrics are often pretty intense -- not stuff for young ears, but fans of industrial themes and sounds will enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Sometimes a hint of Rob Zombie, others a little like Prodigy, and here and there a bit like Front 242, there is a dance vibe to many of these tracks -- not of the pop kind, but a pumping, thumping, wanna spin around and feel it thing going on. Think dance floor, a few beers and strobe lights, zoning out to the sound. The second song, "Monster," is a perfect example of this. One of the highlights here is the last track; a smoky cover version of ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" that definitely rocks hard.

The characteristic that makes this group a real standout is that they are keyed in as to the exact right moment to change sounds. Electronic music can fail in its repetitive nature, with musicians falling so in love with a sound that they become blind to the fact that the listener needs flow. Ghost In The Machine has mastered this, and that in part is what makes their songs triumph. I for one am really pleased to have discovered this band. Good industrial dance sound is tough to come by.

By: Mike Ventarola
10 years of Ghosts possessing a strong pulse-beat on the need for original underground electronics. One of the most rewarding things about reviewing music is being at the outset of a band's career and still being around long enough to watch them grow and further develop into a force that early fans recognized. Such is the case with Ghost in the Machine, a band started by two friends and band mates from a previous metal band. Mike Kern and Chris Weerts decided to create an adaptable electronic/industrial/rock sound that wasn't easily pigeonholed into a neat little genre box. 10 years have passed since their inception with rave reviews following the releases of a number of full-length CDs, as well as maxi singles and guest remixes. In 2002, additional friend and band mate, R.J. Thompson was added to the duo, helping to create an even more vibrant trio. Thompson was a part of the last CD, The Repo Session, whose multitude of tracks became a staple on MTV and various cable stations. With the launch of The One Within, GitM have carved their own niche and sound to create their best work to date. In spite of the gravelly sound in most vocals, GitM managed to really work tirelessly on harmony that would complement the harsher sound. This is first brought to our attention with the track "Monster," which could best be described as an homage to Rob Zombie with crunchy boot-stomping harshness that dare your feet to stay still. The track "Contact" took drum & bass, electronics, and vocal effects to new boot-stomping heights that it becomes apparent why film and television have been looking to this band for the pulse-beat for what is happening in the underground. It is still important to remember this is a band that is NOT signed to a label and is independently releasing professional studio quality sound. "Confession" brings a mid-tempo hip-grinding beat to the table, focusing on how the vocals have evolved. Additionally, there is a bit of vocal processing that creates the man and machine ideation, which is what the band name stands for. Those DJs who may think that GitM is all too harsh for their floors, take note of the track "Invincible," which is highly infectious from the first note to the last. Overall, Ghost in the Machine continue to garner new fans with each passing year, largely due to the fresh spin that they have been able to place upon the de rigueur style of music in the underground. The styles are reflective of what is currently popular in the electronic underground, but make no mistake; their tonal output is clearly their own original stamp.

By: André Péloquin
French:
L’album de Ghost In The Machine débute sur une atmosphère qui pourrait rappeler Lacuna Coil. Les pièces s’enchaînent, on découvre une guitare efficace, qui décape juste ce qu’il faut, un petit côté dynamo à la Prodigy et une ambiance industrielle et autodestructrice à la Nine Inch Nails, voire Rammstein à certains moments. Arrive la pièce Invincible… Et commence le cirque du mauvais goût! On a déjà trop entendu le son électronique qui ponctue la pièce et, comble de malheur, la voix du chanteur en vient même à ressembler à celle de Robbie Williams! Les choses empirent deux pièces plus tard. C’est le retour aux discothèques des années 90 avec The One You Love. Vous aimez le mélange des genres? Vous apprécierez sûrement cette galette. Je suis d’avis que, trop de mélange de genres, c’est comme pas assez….

English:
The album of Ghost In The Machine begins on an atmosphere which could point out Lacuna Coil. The parts are connected, one discovers an effective guitar, which pickle just what it is necessary, a small side dynamo in the Prodigy and an industrial and self-destroying environment in Nine Inch Nails, even Rammstein at certain times. Arrive the Invincible part... And the circus of the bad taste starts! One already too much heard the his electronics which punctuates the part and, roof of misfortune, the voice of the singer even comes from there to resemble that of Robbie Williams! The things worsen two parts later. It is the return to the discotheques of the Nineties with The One You Love. You like the mixture of the kinds? You will appreciate surely this wafer. I am of the opinion that, too much mixture of kinds, it is like step enough....

By: Kristin Theckston
Gravity Kills and techno fans will latch onto this group and never let them go. Ghost In The Machine is an industrial/rock band from Wisconsin that has dance, techno, industrial, and a few others to create a modern sound- they call "Rocktronica." Right now the guys are writing music for a few up and coming independent films while still managing to bring fresh ideas to the fans. This cd is the kind you should take with you to the gym or do your aerobics to it gets the adrenaline pumping so you wanna move your ass around. The songs have a different sound switching from dance to alternative, they like to mix it all up an see what they get. It's an upbeat musical evolution. An all night rave would love to have these songs on their play list.

The band even does a cover of ZZ Tops "Sharp Dressed Man" that's bound to impress. The tracks on here remind me of the days I used to go to the clubs in Philly with my best bud Donna lee. Many a drunken night was spent dancing to stellar tunes very similar to Ghost In The Machine's tracks on "The One Within." I miss those days and now I can atleast keep reliving them in my head. Anyone who hears this will wanna move and I know if you are listening to it in your car, your gonna get lead foot and drive around like a maniac so be careful. "The One Within" will give you the motivation to get thru even your roughest of chores, driving the distance, or just whenever you god damn well feel like listening to it- and you'll be listening to it...alot!

By: Janne
In the info sheet that followed the latest album by the American band GHOST IN THE MACHINE there is a promise of rocktronica and industrial rock, a description that gives the listener a pretty good idea of what is to be expected on ”The One Within”. The band has been around for some time now and among other tings they seem to have gotten a song included on a DVD release of the cool film Serenity.

What I didn’t expect from this album was how dance floor friendly it would turn out to be, something the albums initial songs also effectively hides. This is because after the short intro ”Birth (Of A Monster)” a quite heavy industrial metal kicks in where you soundwise can draw some parallels to ROB ZOMBIE. Even though “Monster” is a really good song, it’s not until “Contact” that I really get blown away with it’s catchy melody, heavy guitar riffs and quite aggressive vocals, all covered in a thick layer of electronic music. It’s after this song that the dance friendly sound suddenly turns up, where the synthesizers takes more or less over the quite heavy guitar sound that was found in the initial songs. The song “Confession” still contains some traces of the heavier and more metal-ish sound, but when you reach songs like “Invincible” and “The One You Love” you’ll find that these traces are now more or less erased and what you now have is something that may be described as a mixture of aggrotech and futurepop. Alongside these tracks you also get some more of the guitar based tracks in “King Of My World” and “Standalone”, so the aggressive feel of the album doesn’t really ever disappear, despite these side trips. After “Three”, which is the last of the dance floor friendly songs you once again reach the more aggressive and guitar based sound, even though it never again gets as heavy as on the first songs. Among these there are also a really cool industrial metal cover on ZZ TOP's song “Sharp Dressed Man”, which also ends the album.

There are plenty of really strong songs on “The One Within” of which I would especially want to mention “Contact”, “The One You Love”, “Three” and “Kill Site” as the best ones. This together with the fact that the lowest level is also really high gives GHOST IN THE MACHINE yet another fan. Excellent, really excellent!

By All Scissors Smile
Here's some fun (and underground) trance-ish/electronic rock. "The One Within" is pretty entertaining - there's no rap, the electronic/industrial effect is layered nicely, and the vocals give it a really nice touch, and are certainly not overdone. My only complaint is about how most songs sound alike, but there's a few standout tracks that are amazing all on their own. They've definitely set themselves apart from the rest of this genre, and overall, it's just an awesome kick-back album to listen to.

Reviewed by Arsenicum

Russian:
Ghost in the machine относительно молодая, хоть и не очень, группа из США, играющая вполне мелодичный индастриал-электро-рок в лучших стилях уже известных всем нам Oomph! с англоязычной лирикой. Очень интересная группа с хорошим и качественным звучанием на которую я думаю стоит обратить внимание всем любителям жанра. Новый альбом группы под названием "The one within" вышедший в конце прошедшего года является третим полноформатным альбомом группы (их дискография также насчитывает шесть ЕРшек) и представляет из себя колоритную смесь гитарных рифов, танцевольной электроники и агрессивного но вполне понятного и не орущего вокала. Диск насчитывает тринадцать треков разного звучания и продолжительности, на нём можно найти как быстрые и агрессивные композиции типа "Contact" и "Monster", но он также не обделён относительно спокойными и мелодичными композициями как "Confession" которые уже напоминают отчасти рок музыку семидесяты и восьмидесятых. Ну а также на альбоме есть почти ЕВМовые композиции, полностью построеные на электронных битах и мелодиях, таковой композицией является пятая по счёту на альбоме песня "Invincible" а также композиция "Three". Воoбще, на мой взгляд диск достаточно разношёрстный, не навязчивый и мелодичный, и должен прийтись по вкусу как любителям гитарных рифов так и любителям потанцевать под мелодичную электронику. Так что крайне рекомендуется.

English:
Ghost in the machine relatively young, although not very, the group of THE USA, which plays completely melodious indastrial-electro- fate in the best styles of the already known to all to us oomph! with the English-language lyric poetry. Very interesting group with a good and qualitative sounding on which I think it is worthwhile to focus attention to all amateurs of genre. The new album of group by the name "The one within" left at the end of the past year is the tretim full-format album of the group (their diskografiya also it counts six YeRshek) and it represents the picturesque mixture of gitarnykh reefs, tantsevol'noy electronics and aggressive but completely intelligible and not yelling vokala. Disk counts thirteen tracks of different sounding and duration, on it can be found as the rapid and aggressive compositions of the type "Contact" and "Monster", but it also is not shared unfairly by relatively calm and melodious compositions as "Confession" which they already resemble partly fate music they are seventieth and the eightieth. Well and also on the album there are the almost YeVMovye compositions, completely postroyenye on the electronic bits and the melodies, such composition is the fifth according to the calculation on the album song "Invincible" and also composition "Three". Vo.obshche, in my view disk sufficiently different coat, not obtrusive and melodious, and must arrive on the taste both for the amateurs of gitarnykh reefs and for the amateurs to have a dance under melodious electronics. So that extremely is recommended.


8/10

Reviewed by Mike Ventarola
The Hidden Sanctuary
The One Within is the latest release from this upper West Coast band who are slaying the masses with their tight sound. Having heard this band from their early days to now, I must admit, I feel like a proud dad of sorts. These guys have grown up musically before my very eyes and ears and I can’t help but to applaude this release. Make no mistake, they have not shied away from their harsher music, but this particular track is sure to be a club hit in a couple of months, mark my words!

band : Ghost In The Machine
CD : The One Within
label : self released
style : industrial rock
tracks : 13
release date :
comments : from Milwaukee WI USA - debut was released in 1998 - including the Sharp Dressed Man ZZ Top cover - thirteen songs right after the intro - powerful - blend of electronics and guitar - professional - Daft Punk meets Metallica
recommended tracks : Confession, King Of My World, The One You Love
score : 8
home : http://www.gitm.net

Reviewed by Kaj Roth
Rating: 3 stars
Imagine Rob Zombie as the vocalist on Rammstein's "Sennsucht" album and you'll get industrial metal band Ghost In The Machine. The band features: Chris Weertz - Vocals/Programming/Guitar, RJ Thompson - Guitar/Vocals and Mike Kern - Bass/Programming/Vocals. Ghost In The Machine was formed by Chris and Mike, both former members of the 80's metal band Hangman - they decided on trying a new direction of industrial metal with traces of techno with GITM and released their debut EP in 1998.

The following year, they put out their first full length "The haunting begins" and in 2002, they added guitarist RJ Thompson to the line up - the second LP "The Repo session" was released in early 2005 and now they gives us their brand new cd "The One Within". GITM has licensed music to MTV, VH1 and the movie "Gamebox 1.0" which should be perfect thinking of their hi-tech metal with dancebeats! "Monster", "Contact", "F.I.S.T" and "King of my world" are excellent industry metal while the black sheep of the album is techno part of songs like "Invincible" and "The one you love" that has it's home on a rave party instead. They have done a real cool cover of ZZ Top's "Sharp dressed man", GITM are more metal than techno thank god. Fans of Celldweller might like this album.

Reviewed By Morticia Devine
Rating: 4 Skulls
The third release from the 3-piece USA Rocktronic outfit, Ghost in the Machine, rages with dark-tinged energy, a raucous sound and brutal edge. It's a progressive symbiosis between the pulse of Electronica, the machine-driven potency of Industrial and the melodic strength of Rock. The band covers the ZZ Top track, “Sharp Dressed Man” for an impressive end to this brilliant album. Released in 2006.

Reviewed By Morticia Devine
Rating: 4 Skulls
“The Repo Session” is another remarkable release by Ghost in the Machine, consisting of 8 new songs, bonus tracks and remixes - their best work from 1999 to 2004. The sound seems a bit darker and more intense than their previous album with a powerful combination of intoxicating rhythms, potent melodies and heated vocals. Ghost in the Machine produces excellent and innovative music with the diversity of genres like modern metal and rock, electronics and R&B.

GHOST IN THE MACHINE
The Repo Session 
(Self financed)

Ghost In The Machine is a band from the United States that sent us their latest release which includes seventeen tracks. The basic songs are eight and all the others are bonus tracks which are remixes from the original songs. So you can think that we have a lot of stuff to hear on this album. Ghost In The Machine is a difficult situation, since they combine industrial with electronic music and with a lot of modern elements from the rock and metal music. When I heard the album for the first time I didn't like it at all, but while I listened to it again and again, I found some really interesting ideas and I discovered that their compositions are well worked even though they don’t have the traditional metal elements. I believe that only the openminded metal heads will understand the vision of Ghost In The Machine. In my opinion the band has a very good vision of their music and they did the best in order to have a very nice result. The fans of industrial music will adore Ghost In The Machine. 
Official Site: www.gitm.net 
E-mail band: chris@808multimedia.com 

Antonis  Maglaras

Reviewed by Mike Ventarola
The Hidden Sanctuary
Admittedly, I was never a huge fan of industrial music. However, GITM offers more than your typical cookie cutter stylization. The band goes out on a limb to mix various styles while providing the right crunchy essences that is popular in the scene. More importantly, these guys can sing! While there are tracks which feature the more gravelly throated vocals, overall, there are a number of songs where they also utilize their harmonious vocals. GITM demonstrates that industrial music can be approachable and stylized without losing one iota of its edginess.

Reviewed By Morticia Devine
Rating: 4 Skulls
“The Haunting Begins” is an extremely diversified first full-length album, released in 1999 by the Wisconsin band, Ghost in the Machine. With influences ranging from Techno/Electronica and Rock/Industrial to R&B, this computer core outfit has a revolutionary and incredibly varied sound. The guitars are solid and heavy and the electronic element is strong and vibrant. The lyrics are grounded in life, relationships, spirituality and the shadows of the mind.

The Haunting Begins - Review
reviewed by PJVD
Heavy guitars and distorted beats to create music that makes you confused. The album starts calm but after a minute electronic beats and industrial sounds overwhelm you. You can hear a good mixture of electro-goth, powerful (almost aggressive) industrial and electronic orientated music.

The Haunting Begins - Review
This entire disc is full of hard-edged, guitar driven, industrial dance music. Of course not every track is fit for the dance floor, but they're all full of a variety of types of music which make them all very interesting to listen to. Those that are ready for the dance floor are certainly written to move the entire floor.

The Haunting Begins...
You can hear a good mixture of electro-goth, powerful (almost aggressive) industrial and electronical orientated music. When listening to their music you start thinking of bands such as Front Line assembly, Suture Seven and some work of Nine Inch Nails. Some good tracks on The Haunting Begins are Lies, Do You Believe?, Electric, Supergod, Big Gimmick and especially The Shepherd.

The Haunting Begins...
13 tracks of pure techno / electro music with industrial and rock touches.

Hard breaks spill like crude oil, a dark, lurching substance to make you wary. Angry dual vocals toast over the mix of beats, eerie synths, background bass lines and nasty riffs.

The Haunting Begins...
reviewed by Tom Yanno
When Frankenstein meets Darkwave, what results is contained in The Haunting Begins… If you are a fan of Dark Techno, Gothic, Industrial or just superior thumping music, you will love this CD from Milwaukee based Ghost In The Machine.

The Haunting Begins...
reviewed by Chris Lonsberry
The Haunting Begins... is well laid out between songs that are more electric and more guitar-based. The production is fantastic. And there are melodies and musical moments on the CD where I was drawn to it thinking "oh.. that's great. I'd like to play with this melody or that hook." The rest of the time, I was just enjoying the CD. And you should too.

By Keith Hannaleck June 6, 2000
Anger, discontent and sweet joy... all wrapped up in music dripping with emotion. . As beautiful as it is ominous, it will pile drive you into the ground, or put you on a soft billowing cloud. Sounds with polar opposites, yet mysteriously compatible.

The Haunting Begins...
Nosebleed17 Rating: 7/10
The sound they produce is a creative blend of electronic techno and industrial, but with a hard edge. In the past I have thought that techno had pretty much all the same sound, so I haven't listened to much of it, but GITM does have a unique fell different from others I have heard in this genre. I feel that this group is VERY good for what they do...

Album: "The Haunting Begins..." (1999)
Label: GITM
Style: Heavy industrial
Songs: 13
Grade: B
Reviewed by: Darklight
This two man band create industrial music that blends elements of EBM, techno and rock into one to make for an extremely enjoyable listen. They mix it up on each and every song to prevent anything from sounding stale or repetitive.

The Haunting Begins... self-released
rating: 5.5 of 6
review by Herr Stalhammar
GHOST IN THE MACHINE unleashed such an effort that's definitely worth anyone's attention. Delivering an inimitable amalgamation of industrial and gothic metal (yes, metal is the keyword!), this duo managed to bring forth the light almost a perfect recording. All the electronics and programming on this magnificent CD are done in a very skillful way, being undoubtedly well-crafted+ with addition of thought-provoking, somewhat ironic and equivocal lyrics, as well as haunting passages when it comes to vocal department.

The Haunting Begins... Electronic Even though I've listened to a lot of it, I've never really been a fan of electronic music. However, I do consider myself a fan of Ghost in the Machine. This music is packed full of energy that most would not believe. The programming, the sound quality, the compositions, everything is top notched and completely explosive. These guys bring a new light to a style of music that I have yet to be impressed with. Well I'm impressed now. This is very powerful stuff and contains a uniqueness that screams with coolness. I would even go as far to say that any fan of any style of electronic music would definitely love this CD. The Haunting Begins... has got to be the best electronic CD that I have ever heard. GITM is #1 in my book. The sound quality is excellent, the programing and production of this song is amazing, the music is beautifully written, and the vocals are sexy and well delivered.

CD: The Haunting Begins (Enhanced CD)
Reviewed by: Mike Ventarola
The Haunting Begins is the premier journey that comes complete with animated graphics on this enhanced CD to bring you into the electronic mind of our two artists. The body of work is a journey into the realms of surrealism which crashes against the mental tide of the rational and irrational mind. The chorus demonstrates a great harmony of vocals while the anger is translated through the music medium. GITM create the music that our subconscious sings to us. They delve into the id, the ego and the super ego to pluck the ripest thoughts and sounds to accompany the soundtrack to our lives. Another unique thing that sets this duo apart from the sea of many is their innate ability to fuse dark techno, modern rock, industrial, and progressive electronics into a very broad spectrum without missing a beat Unlike other electronic artists who rely solely on their keyboards and computers to sell them, GITM can actually sing and express a myriad of emotions as required by each song. When I initially received this demo for review, I had to guard it like a hawk simply because many friends wanted to borrow it until they purchased their own copy.

The Haunting Begins... (Self-Released)
By: Sonya Brown
This cd is diverse in content, ranging from techno/electronica to rock with a taste of Industrial and even some sensual R&B thrown in for good measure. The Haunting Begins is a dynamic release for Ghost in The Machine, and makes me wonder what these 2 talented musicians are capable of conquering in their future endeavors.

The Haunting Begins...
~reviewed by Blu
Ghost in the Machine transports its listeners into a surreal world haunted by crunching guitars, digitized voices and danger around every curb. With their unique fusion of traditional rock instruments and electronica, The Ghost in the Machine gives us a preview of what technology and rock-n-roll can accomplish together. The smart sampling and fun electronic sounds continue through out the CD while all along, blending it naturally with the harder edged guitar and bass riffs to form one aggressive unified wall of music. Overall, I think Ghost in the Machine has something unique and exciting going on here. They're truly creating something without the boundaries of genre. Many of these songs are worthy of being popular club songs. Their potential seems to be gleaming bright amidst a maze of possibilities and I'll look forward to seeing what comes out next. (reviewed at www.starvox.net/crypt/march.htm)

The Haunting Begins...
CD Review By: James Draper
Is any one out there hosting a rave anytime soon? Because if you are, I've got about an hour of your party right here. This duo of techno mastery has to be a hit with the common rave goers. However, I do know music and I will tell you that there are a few mellow songs that are quite pretty, and they coincide well with the tougher sounding ones. This album has a good dance quality to it and should be considered when looking for something to get you moving. Nefarious Rating of 4 notes (Great Polish, Originality, Rhythm)

The Haunting Begins...
GitM creates a dark, pulsating lifeform in their music check Ghost in the Machine out, you won't be disappointed.

Everyone is Dead/Do You Believe? Maxi-single
reviewed by Sparrow
The album comes off as an excellent techno-industrial disc which you would be just as likely to find playing at your local industrial club as dance club or hardcore rave. All instruments and programming are done expertly, unlike a lot of industrial albums which at times rehash what has already been done... GITM carries a lot of creativity and imagination into it especially through lead tracks "Do You Believe?" and "Everyone is Dead". They bring some new blood to the genre and that is much appreciated.

Everyone is Dead/Do You Believe? Maxi-single
Nosebleed17 Rating: 7/10
The sound they produce is a creative blend of electronic techno and industrial, but with a hard edge. In the past I have thought that techno had pretty much all the same sound, so I haven't listened to much of it, but GITM does have a unique fell different from others I have heard in this genre. I feel that this group is VERY good for what they do...

Everyone is Dead/Do You Believe? Maxi-single
Reviewed by Chris Griffin 11/27/99
The fact is, that the music is excellent, the beats are utterly danceable (check out the "Everyone is Dead" bring out yer dead mix), and the groove is all there. The raw attraction of the music is enough to send any clubber in to a fit of wiggling and writhing.

Everyone Is Dead - Do You Believe?
By: Jessica Simmons
Did someone say they are having a party? No music to play?! Well, Ghost in The Machine has your problem solved. When you play their CD in your computer there is an awesome computer generated movie featuring some of their music. A definite must see!

Debut EP
Ghost in the Machine is the best of what's new. This is an album definitely worth your time if you're a hard core dance music fan, a curious new-ager, or just a person with a taste the forbidden pleasures life has to offer. Hats off and sincerest congrats to Ghost in the Machine for this fantastic collection.