Ghosts of Hope is a genre expansive metalcore project from New York City. And despite being fairly new to the scene, the band has stuck their nail in the coffin and they’ve made it clear that they’re here to stay. 

The four piece is made up of lead vocalist Oli Woods (they/them), guitarist Bryan Goss (he/him), bassist Brenden Widmayer (he/him) and drummer Brayan Santa Cruz (he/him). Inspired by the nostalgic sounds of early 2000s metal, Ghosts of Hope founded in 2018 with aspirations to break through genre barriers and, as their name suggests, always believe in the underdog (aka–ghosts). 

With musical inspirations from Linkin Park, Evanescence, Flyleaf, Muse, and more, Ghosts of Hope mix modern metalcore with the classic grungey-rock vibes of their predecessors. Each member of the band has their individual expressiveness–like Oli being inspired by Deftones and Poppy while Brenden prefers Beartooth and Sleep Token. This melting pot of adoration serves as the perfect recipe for Ghosts of Hope to rise uniquely from the scene. 

Before the year is done, the band hopes to release some more music that they’re proud of and also enjoy. They hope to tour new places and meet artists they look up to. In an interview with the band Oli and Bryan told me, “[We want to] connect with a diverse audience that finds meaning in the experiences we write about and create a space that feels safe and inclusive for those who may feel underrepresented in heavy music.” 

The thought presumably comes from the fact that Oli is proudly nonbinary. And while the metalcore scene is becoming more and more accepting to LGBTQIA+ artists, it’s notoriously been overridden with heteronormative faces. The rise of Ghosts of Hope is more than the rise of another metalcore band–it’s the rise of a queer metalcore band; the rise of a band that shows young queer artists that they deserve to make music and deserve to have that music be heard. 

In September, the band released their third single titled, “Martyr.” The track is about the struggle between mental health, self-worth, and substance abuse. “It’s a reflective song about being in a very dark headspace and questioning if recovery is even worth it,” they said. “We hope for it to help people who may have faced or are facing similar struggles to know that they are never alone no matter how dark things feel.” 

The song is perfectly crafted with the professionalism of everything that makes a metalcore song special and Oli’s vocals beautifully swim between dreamlike and aggressive, almost representing the ups and downs of recovery. 

I have high hopes for Ghosts of Hope. “Pyromania” is a personal favorite of mine; an upbeat track that showcases the versatile talent of the band perfectly. To anyone reading this article, I ask that you take a risk on Ghosts of Hope because they truly, truly deserve it and you will not be disappointed! 2025 is the year we give queer artists the attention they deserve. 

GHOSTS OF HOPE | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

Photos by Daniel A. Diaz