To mark in the season of all that is spooky, looking at a band I have never understood – Ghost
So here we are, ghost, ghouls and all that is terrible. And that’s just the evening news. Whilst this year is going to look a little different, if you are are dreading the knocks at the door when the small humans demand confectionary, you might be in luck this year as we are likely to all have to remain in our homes. Or we’re going to have to lob sweets at the tykes from the upper windows. Take win where you can.
Well whilst all that merriment is not going on, we have a more pertinent demon to slay. What is the deal with Ghost? Or Ghost B.C. for those in the land of the bald eagle and Five Finger Death Punch. Sorry that was too cruel, I take it back.
So who are Ghost then?
For those who are unaware, Ghost are a Swedish band known for their uber theatrical, devilish stage shows and association with Satanism and the occult. They are lead by front man Tobias Forge, who takes on a new persona which each record (beginning with demon pope Papa Emeritus). The rest of the band taking the form of Nameless Ghouls with no identities.
My expectation from Ghost before I heard them was somewhere between death metal and black metal. In the style of Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir. I had also heard the single Square Hammer, but didn’t really consider it enough to put 2 and 2 together. How does a band with the imagery likely to get themselves banned in most countries release chart loving singalong tracks and still hold such revere within the metal community?
Ritual, off their debut album ranked #46 in Kerrang‘s 50 Most Evil Songs Ever. Lyrical content alone does not make a good song. To be respected as they are with the metal masses there must be something I am missing. Some intricacy to their musicianship, some expert craftsmanship I am ignorant to.
In the absence of The Mystery Machine – the usual vessel with which to solve spooky mysteries, the only way to solve this conundrum is to take a listen through the discography and see what I am missing. Unless everyone is afflicted by demonic sorcery. I best practice my pentagrams before I continue.
Opus Eponymous
Ghost‘s debut album. What hits me from the second song Con Clavi Con Dio is some deliciously evil bass work. Very old school heavy metal. Ritual has a quintessential metal riff. Marvellous. I am already seeing that I have likely vastly misunderstood Ghost.
It’s not particularly heavy, no growling, no shredding. But boy does it sound evil. To somehow produce 70s singalong pop rock, and make it unmistakably metal is wizardry of the highest order. Using Gibson Standard SG guitars through Orange amplifiers is key to the 70s metal tone.
An excerpt from an interview with a Nameless Ghoul in Guitar World magazine; “We played everything through an Orange Thunderverb 50. To get a real Seventies vibe, we backed up the gain as much as possible without losing the tone or the sustain. We found that the midrange was really important as well. That’s why we used Orange amps.”
The spooky organ backing on Elizabeth add perfectly to the feel of the track – being about the Blood Countess Bathory, who murdered 600 girls to gain eternal youth. Stand By Him – the first track written by Ghost, contains “probably the most heavy metal riff that ever existed” according to Papa Emeritus himself. That is a highly debatable subject, but it’s definitely a cracking metal riff.
What continues through the remainder of the album is more of the same, stripped down metal riffs, unsettling arrangements, satanic lyrics and some perfectly constructed guitar solos. The closing track is important in the lasting impression an album leaves, and the instrumental track Genesis does that perfectly. Ending with a very System of a Down style acoustic arrangement.
At a fleeting 34 minutes the album is over before you know it, but already I want to go straight back and listen to it again. As my first introduction to Ghost I don’t think this could have gone much better.
Oh and the album cover is in extremely good taste. Capturing a very traditional horror vibe without looking tasteless.
I may have to bathe in holy water to reclaim my soul after that 34 minute ceremony. Be right back…
Infestissumam
Right, back on the righteous side and ready to take on the evil spirits once more. On to Ghost‘s sophomore release Infestissumam. Latin for very hostile don’t you know. What are Ghost going to become now? Either one of those bands with a stunning debut album that gets held in high regard in spite of the wall of shite that becomes subsequent releases. Or the start of a magnificent album collection. One of these two I suspect.
After the opening song very much feels it feels like its building up to something. Per Aspera Ad Inferi has a very Rammstein second verse riff. It’s already feeling like progressive/psychedelic rock is a backbone to this record. Not a complaint, just an observation.
Secular Haze is one of those demon waltz’s that haunts your bedtime hours. Reminds me of System of a Down‘s debut album. The songs are noticeably longer this time round, further supporting the progressive prognosis.
Jigolo Har Megiddo takes a sudden turn to the 60s pop. Like The Doors have just turned up. It’s definitely lacking in the metal department, and far more experimental than their debut. But still catchy as hell.
We get to the pride piece in the centre of the album now, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen. at 7:29 the longest song to date, and a hard one to describe to boot. At first a creepy Christmas lullaby. Then suddenly the demon doppelgängers of The Surfaris turn up for a surf-rock extravaganza. With an outro that would fit perfectly on a Kaiser Chiefs record. It’s very much a shining example of the progressive nature of this record. But damn it’s catchy and enjoyable. Ghost really are masters of writing a song you will need a lobotomy to stop humming it for the rest of the day.
After this point the second half of the record is, well, reimagined pop music. It certainly sounds fresh, extremely catchy and reasonably enjoyable. But doesn’t really lead me clambering to listening to it again. Very much evident that the progressive direction worked well for the first half of the album, not so much the latter.
Perhaps my mind has been poisoned marginally by listening to it back to back with Opus Eponymous. Experimental, but not necessarily producing better work overall. Is this a symptom of a record being released on a major music label, or just experimentation gone awry? One can only surmise.
Meliora
At least the string of excellent album covers continues. Meliora – latin for the pursuit of something better. Maybe a reflection on their previous album? Personally I am hoping for more of their debut style.
Strong opener to the album. Spirit has heavy Deep Purple vibes and feels much like Ghost back at their best. A strong omen for the rest of the album hopefully. From The Pinnacle To The Pit is when the prog goes right. An opening bass line dripping with groove. Beautiful harmonised guitar work to end the track. Fabulous.
Cirice is back to showing how the heavy in heavy metal is all about the riff. You don’t need growled vocals, don’t need massive down-tuning or tonnes of gain. Just need a kick ass riff and a well composed track. Both of which this has comfortably.
A nice change of pace for the next 2 tracks is heavily back in the psychedelic rock camp (in the style of Simon and Garfunkel being forced to perform for the dark lord himself), but feels very much in place here. Then we’re back to some delicious metal goodness for Mummy Dust. The remainder of the album follows suit, ending with a demonic Mamas and Papas track. Maybe the Nameless Ghouls are indeed Satan’s duplicates of these famous faces? Would explain the masks.
Overall a terrific album. It very much feels like the first two albums mixed together. The metal riffs of Opus Eponymous mixed with the progressive element of Infestessimum. Ghost back to their best. Hazaar!
A side note on Square Hammer – released as part of the deluxe edition of Meliora. I could not get this song out of my head for what felt like an eternity after first hearing it. So no need to revisit this one! I’ll still put it below though, just so it gets stuck in your head.
Prequelle
I am not sure what to expect now. Meliora felt like the perfect culmination of the Ghost catalogue so far. Where can they go from there and still feel fresh and memorable?
Prequelle starts with a delightfully creepy rendition of Ring a Ring o’ Roses, kicking off the theme of medieval disease and specifically the black death, responsible for killing around half of the population of Europe (no not the band) in the 14th century.
Then into Rats, which might be Ghost‘s best song so far. A great riff, a chorus reminiscent of Flash (ahhh….I couldn’t help myself) by Queen, and an excellent solo that for the millionth time now proving you don’t need to be a shred master to still write a killer solo. Ending with possibly Ghost‘s heaviest riff. Perfection.
Faith then immediately goes into power metal, and another excellent riff. I’m annoying myself at how many times I am saying that now. Another great song. All appearing positive so far.
5 minute instrumental yes please. Then hitting me square between the peepers with a saxophone solo at the end. 100% not expecting that but exactly what I am here for. Encore!
Dance Macabre is easily the catchiest song Ghost have produced to date. They have however earned the right for me to love it. And indeed I do. The song focuses on people dancing during the Black Death as they know they were doing to die. It references French composer Camille Saint-Saëns‘ “Danse Macabre“, containing the musical concept of the tritone – known as diabolus in musica for the uncomfortable sound this interval produces.
The Mamas and Papas are back on the back half of this album. Along with a 5 minute folk instrumental this time, accompanied by spooky ambient noises.
So what has all this fuss been about then?
Well after that epic listenathon I am going to say I am 50% surprised and 50% impressed. It was totally not what I was expecting from my first impression of Ghost. I expected church burnings and extreme wailing, not catchy 70s infused pop metal. But man these guys (or one guy as Papa E himself considers it a solo project now) know how to write a song.
Yes some of the songs are a bit of a miss, some straying very far into pop territory. But at their best, Ghost show how to write a proper metal song. Take away all the modern traits of down tuning, growled vocals and million-note-a-second riffs. Just write a kick ass riff and a metal song you have.
I have to say at the moment I am undecided whether Opus Eponymous or Meliora is my favourite album. Meliora is certainly more accomplished and mature. But Opus Eponymous has a raw feel you get when a band is really just expressing themselves. Ritual is probably their best song too.
I am definitely going to run back though their discography. They have gained one additional fan today. I just hope my soul remains on the light side for a little longer yet. Or not, for it beith All Hallows’ Eve after all….
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