Album Review: October Country by Ghost Mountain

Ghost Mountain is making a comeback after disappearing for four years. returning with their newest album October Country. (Submitted: Judson Doncaster)

October Country by Ghost Mountain is my album of the year for 2025. 

Ghost Mountain started his career as a dark and gritty rapper who found success alongside his friend and fellow rapper, Sematary. 

Ghost Mountain started as a mainstay feature on both of Sematary’s first two albums, but had only one solo song titled “Coil."

After Sematary’s second album was released in 2020, Ghost Mountain entirely disappeared until 2024 when he released his second solo track called “Apollon.” 

This song is absolutely stellar and cemented the sound for his debut album, October Country. 

Ghost Mountain takes the sound he pioneered with Sematary and expands it, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. 

This album is far more accessible than any other project and it is much more polished. 

The three best songs are “Hovel,” “Familiar Stranger” and “Wayside.”  

“Hovel” encapsulates this entire album. This song starts with an electronic riff that manages to be both eerie and exciting. 

The 808s come in and the song expands to another level. Almost like you’re watching a galaxy be created.

Ghost Mountain's vocals and lyrics on this song are special. In the chorus, he belts “Stay the night I don’t mind at all, wile away, Tempocide, it’s my default.” 

This entire song is about Ghost Mountain's struggles with drug abuse and the language he uses to describe it is unlike anything I’ve heard. 

The term Tempocide comes from a poem of the same name, all about burning time. Every single element of this song falls perfectly into place and creates something transcendent.  

I have sung “Familiar Stranger” out loud more times than I can count. Every song on this album feels beyond a mere mortal’s comprehension, as if the sound engineer were Zeus himself. 

This song stands out as it feels grand and important. We start with a slow and dramatic build until Ghost Mountain breaks in singing “Broke in, saw me beaten down, heavy on the latch when I came around.” 

It also features Buckshot, who is a member of the same collective as Sematary and Ghost Mountain; he fits this song like a glove. Front to back, an excellent listen.  

“Wayside” is the last track on this album and by far the most uplifting. 

This album feels like a journey through Ghost Mountain's life and “Wayside” is his happy ending. 

Despite this feeling of joy, it is clear that's not the intention. 

This entire song is Ghost Mountain wishing that the road back to forgiveness was still there. At the chorus, he sings “It’s the tree painted in your place and the teeth that bit your nails white.”  

The song is a flawless mix of joy and sadness. “Wayside” is nowhere near the most-listened-to song on this album and I think that is unjust.  

Ghost Mountain managed to create a brand-new sound with this album. This sound is addictive and I love the trajectory Ghost Mountain's career is on. 

I hope his upcoming winter-themed album sticks with it.

It is heavenly.