Close your eyes and imagine that you have just found yourself riding a train with a brain full of psychedelics and in the background over the sound of the tracks all you can hear is a blurred loop of 1950's department store music. During the first track of You Are a Ghostly Presence, lasting all of twenty seconds, this will be your experience. However, when that twentieth second drops you had better be ready because Mt. St. Helens has already erupted onto the scene (no pun intended) and turned your confused but sustainable train ride into an all-adrenalin pumping free ride.

Bass, drums, guitars, vocals and occasional keyboards are the prevailing force behind the commotion and it seems the Chicago-based band behind it all is going to walk away smelling of roses. Mt. St. Helens seems to be making an honorable progression towards greatness by creating a sound that dynamically encompasses a full range of body and texture. Throughout You Are a Ghostly Presence, and especially within it's highlight track, "Texas Jailbreak"- where echoed vocals and a muffled/tubular guitar sound thicken things up considerably- Mt. St. Helens proves themselves capable of an impressive spectrum of rock music.

Moreover, this band really knows how to work the rhythm changes and they go as far as to turn one good change into a beat-intoxicating track of its own, titled "Ghastly Menace". This song and it's opening lyrics, "This is day twenty sugar free," really grab hold and demand attention, courtesy of vocalist Quinn Goodwillie's powerful pipes and infectious lyrics. The guitar work is fierce and strong with a constant oscillating lead that never grows old. The rhythm section definitely does it's part as the bassist and drummer provide killer filler by way of crystal clear cymbal work and skillful bass embellishments. Additionally, You Are a Ghostly Presence is all enhanced by a very well done job in the studio resulting in seamless mixing and sound quality.

It appears that, with all said, I really like this band and this CD and therefore recommend it highly. Why wouldn't I? You get to ride the psychedelic train twice, (since it comes back around for the last track,) and included on the CD are three pieces of cool media including a bloody video of "Texas Jailbreak", a bloodier art/horror video film of the first two tracks, "Torcello" and "Ghostly Presence," and an enlightening but hush-hush not-so-secret video of the band behind their cool punk-rock façade.