Ghost – Skeletá

 

Ghost – Skeletá
Loma Vista / Concord Records – 2025
Metal
Rated: ***

Had to do this little write-up today of course… You know why. One Pope being buried while the self-professed heavy metal Pope is standing tall and rocking hard. Had the pleasure of interviewing the man behind it once, forgot to ask him if he had stolen the album title to his 2016 album Popestar from the review we wrote back in 2013 about Infestissumam. Next time perhaps. Well… Ghost is back. And even less has changed in respect to the albums that came before. Good news for the fans that get psyched by his metal and pop pastiche, but not the best news for the ones that dug their beginning. But there is no turning back, his trajectory has been set for a while. This time he’s called Papa V Perpetua delivers his unmoving, steady but pristine vocals in the same fashion. Some minor guitar solo’s stand out, inviting more eighties tones into the Ghost palate. Everything else is still there, grandiose gestures, opting for operatic and excessive. And compositions that are unavoidably catchy. A bit more lighthearted perhaps when it comes to the Guiding Lights song or a tad more heavy as brought to you by second track Lachryma. All in all, on Skeletá we hear Ghost is still alive and doing its own pop metal thing. Rest In Peace Pope Francis. Long live Pope Papa V Perpetua!

(Written by JK)

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Ghost – Prequelle 

 

Ghost –Popestar

 

Ghost – Meliora

 

Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam

Ghost – Meliora

Ghost – Meliora

Spinefarm/Caroline – 2015

Rock, Pop, Metal, Theatrical, Occult

Rated: ***

And onwards we go, towards the perfect mixture of ABBA and Blue Oyster Cult with some extra clerical atmospheres and grandiose gestures. So, yes, we are talking about those rascals from Ghost. And every time again those rascals state beforehand that the album will sound less retro as the ones that came before and will turn more metal. But as we all know the clergy is not to be trusted, so on this one, Meliora they move once again further away from the heavy stuff and towards something definitely larger than life. And even though there is some screeching guitar here and there it is still as poppy as predecessor Infestissumam. But do we care? Should we care? These Swedish dresser uppers sound even more at home with their own brand of music. Somewhat retro, somewhat eighties hardrock and a lot of ABBA and Blues Oyster Cult. And on all those moments that they rock hard and sound good you are enjoying the hell out of yourself. But on those almost pompous, dramatic moments of overtures, you know this is what Ghost does best, turn the theatrical into something catchy and addictive.

(Written by JK)

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Number 14

Number 14

“Named for the 54 Colorado peaks which tower over 14,000 feet in elevation, this beer is a spectacular copper hued beauty. The treatment of the water to simulate English hard water and the blending of several specialty malts and hops produce a delicate balance between aromatic maltiness and herbal hops. An extra special bitter ale beer that has aromas of citrus, honey, vanilla and yeast, this domestic craft beer has strong herbal hops flavors followed by mild malt flavors…”

Another entry that only had one point more than the one that came before. Yes, these lovely guys do their musical dance on Number 14. And they do it with pazazz! Their flamboyant dazzling style might defer the attention a bit form their pop sensible doom metal but still; they do it on their own terms and with a definite feel for flair! Moving ever forward from their theatrical beginning towards a musical future; (which was even more perfected on the follow-up EP also released this year) these boys dress for every occasion. On the album released earlier this year they combine pop sensible hooks and melodies with a hallowed atmosphere, some sixties occultism and Scandinavian metal twists. Instead of hostile we are treated to docile tunes that beg to be stroked… Stroked hard…

GHOST (B.C.) – Infestissumam  

 

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Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam

Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam

Lomo Vista – 2013

Rock, Theatrical, Pop, Metal, Occult

Rated: ***

My first live encounter with Ghost was at the Roadburn Festival of 2011 and their theatrical performance drew so much away from the incredible music they delivered, one could only chuckle, giggle and dismiss them as every branch on the way down idiots. It kind of destroyed the possibility to truly enjoy their first album Opus Eponymous for it now evokes images of happy dancing Pope ghouls and hooded squirrels looking for their nuts. Nonetheless, I definitely looked forward to their second effort to see if they could keep occult riffing away without resulting in becoming even more of a pastiche. Well, their second album Infestissumam definitely progresses away from all that came before. Moving ever forward towards their theatrical, nay Musical ambitions. Their pop sensible hooks and melodies forgo every belief in their so-called occult offering. If they are in league with the devil, he must be wearing dancing shoes! But still, it isn’t a bad album at all. Just very different and weird. Like a sort of sixties hallowed pop mixture with Scandinavian roots and metal twists. I secretly suspect this is the reason Pope Benedictus XVI resigned. He wants to become a popstar too! A popestar!

(Written by JK)

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