“Broken” by Deflecting Ghosts lands as a huge wave of intense emotions and driving music. Broken is the magic creation of Luke Fitzgerald, his wife Rhema and drummer Austin and it’s a song that surprises you with its punch and touches your heart with its emotion. Coming after the killer hits “Lost My Mind” and “Passion of the Scorned,” “Broken” is the band’s latest single and it impresses with alternative rock sounds and glimpses of modern and melodic metal that feel just like music from the late ‘90s and early 2000s.
As soon as it starts, the haunting effect comes from the lively, detailed guitar lines. Luke then begins singing and his voice turns soulful, rough and full of suffering and truth. They help take you from a calm beginning to a wild and energetic conclusion. You watch someone go through the challenges of dealing with addiction and looking at themselves honestly on a daily basis. The band goes smoothly from soothing calm to high-powered rock, thanks in large part to the smooth bass and drum part from Rhema and Austin. Those guitars? Their music is like a combination of windswept riffs and clear-voiced melodies that get into your head.
I find it surprising how this feels like my own story. The problems and triumphs of the band, thanks in part to Rhema, Luke and Austin’s ways of dealing with them, are easy to hear in their music. For someone who has struggled with their emotions, a lifeline is often what “Broken” quickly becomes. While preparing for their first Sunflower Festival, this song shows us that Deflecting Ghosts are searching for truth, not fame. This kind of music helps you feel recognized and it shows that it’s fine to experience pain as you keep pushing on. Broken is a powerful and emotional read and I want to keep reading.
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