One of the most unique bands in rock right now is the Swedish rock outfit Ghost. With Ghost, the visuals and theatrics are just as important as the music with their frontman taking on the role of different Popes over the years and the rest of the band remaining a mystery as the Unnamed Ghouls. The band has propelled to the top in recent years winning a Grammy for Best Metal Performance and earning a top ten spot on Billboard’s album charts. Tobias Forge has recently come out as the mastermind behind the band and announced an all new character in Cardinal Copia for the release of their fourth studio album “Prequelle,’ out on Loma Vista Recordings.
The new record is themed around the historic period of the Dark Ages with its fair share of plagues and apocalyptic references but can also be seen as a statement on the state of the world today. In perfect Ghost fashion, the album kicks off with an introductory track, an extremely creepy version of the childhood nursery rhyme “Ring Around the Rosie” that will make the hair on your arms stand up and put a chill in your bones. The first single “Rats” is up next with an exceptional synth driven melody about biblical plagues. A hard driving riff shapes “Faith” with a choral ending and the instrumental track “Miasma” features great keyboard work as well as the addition of saxophone towards the end. In typical Ghost fashion, the music runs the gamut from progressive rock to metal to pop and back again. “Dance Macabre” is a stand out song with an eighties pop metal feel and an incredibly catchy hook. The band of Unnamed Ghouls are top notch musicians and their technical skills are second to none with amazing guitar leads and keyboard runs throughout the record. Forge’s vocals sound better than ever with outstanding range and superior control. One of the most captivating tunes on the album is “Pro Memoria,” which has a Broadway musical feel to it almost as if Ghost found themselves trapped in the middle of an Andrew Lloyd Webber show. It’s a great show piece for what Ghost is all about and will be a fantastic addition to their live set.
“Prequelle” is another outstanding release that should cement Ghost as a dominant force in the world of rock and roll.
