Burning Hell - Ghost Palace
by Helen Tipping
published: 17 / 4 / 2025

Label:
BB Island
Format: CD
intro
Upbeat latest release from The Burning Hell which takes a surreally humorous but dystopian view of the future
‘Ghost Palace’ is the latest release from The Burning Hell. It sees the band still writing about weird dystopian futures in an upbeat style. They state that the album isn’t about the apocalypse. That’s a foregone conclusion, they are concerned with what we might leave behind. It’s not all dystopian. Some songs are more observational. What are people? How do things work? Will there be a future, and what will it be like? They’re sure it will feature love and birds. The starting point of what’s left behind is ‘Celebrities in Cemeteries’, a trip to Père Lachaise visiting the tombs of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde, another trip to a circus cemetery. Are clown coffins like clown cars? Maybe if your grave is big and ostentatious enough people in the future will think you were famous even if you’re not. Moving on and ‘Brazil Nuts and Blue Curacao’ takes us to a party, where all that’s left is, yes, brazil nuts and Blue Curacao. They’ve eaten and drunk the rest of the party food. I think the party will soon come to an end. Luckily one of the party at least can manage to hunt for food, but until then let’s party. ‘Summer Olympics’ was my favourite track, the sound reminding me of the The Wave Pictures, a nostalgic memory of falling in love, with the summer Olympics on TV, a gentler time in contrast to the present, a noisy walk on the boardwalk surrounded by buskers and fairground attractions. The final, and title track, ‘Ghost Palace’, tells of the leaving of this world for another, Earth the Ghost Palace. Will the travellers find a new home? Perhaps we need to go back to ‘My Home Planet’ for the answer to that, but I’d prefer us to leave our flags at home.
Track Listing:-
1 Celebrities in Cemeteries2 My Home Planet
3 Brazil Nuts and Blue Curaçao
4 Luna FM
5 What Does It Do and How Does It Work
6 Bottle of Chianti, Cheese and Charcuterie Board
7 Summer Olympics
8 Duck vs. Decorated Shed
9 Birds of Australia
10 Strange Paradise
11 Ghost Palace
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/theburninghellhttp://www.wearetheburninghell.com/
https://www.instagram.com/theburninghellband/
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
bandcamp
soundcloud
reviews |
Garbage Island (2022) |
![]() |
Apocalyptic and nihilistic ninth album from Canadian post-punk/electronic band The Burning Hell |
Public Library (2016) |
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart