Rumpelstiltskin Grinder’s ‘Ghostmaker’ Makes a Monster Out of a Band

When you hear a band name like Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, you probably chuckle a little. Not taking the band too seriously at all, you may even glance past them.

All thoughts change upon hearing them and their new album “Ghostmaker.”

Truth be told, the band isn’t exactly new to the scene. But a lot has changed from the early thrash days of this Philadelphia quartet.

By the end of the album you realize they’re back, they’re angry and they’d like to be taken a lot more seriously.

It’s not just the song titles that have gotten better. The band has taken a more old-school death metal route, taking heavy influence from Massacre and Death as well as some Kreator and Rigor Mortis to keep some thrash in the mix. Bassist and vocalist Shawn Riley sounds a lot like Kam Lee (ex-Massacre) while the album for the most part sounds like Massacre’s first album “From Beyond.”

Everything is different for Rumpelstiltskin Grinder this time around. It feels like they have not only matured a great deal, but they clearly want to be taken much more seriously – because the band has not done a full tour since supporting Deceased in 2009.

Notable ear splitters include “Those Who Are Unseen,” “F*cking Wild,” “Run Through the Bastards” and the title track, “Ghostmaker.”

“Ghostmaker” is an album that will turn heads and will greatly please old and new fans of the band, while making a huge improvement in the bands musical style. It will be argued over weather it is more death metal than thrash, but nonetheless it’s extremely heavy.

A lesson to all: Don’t judge a book by its cover, you just might piss it off.