Swedish heavy band Ghosts have become icons. There are a number of important things to know about them, especially if you are a fan – so let’s put down your online shopping and online play at Slots Capital Casino and get on with it.
Certain things go hand in hand with different types of music. In the 80’s it was skinny black jeans that was associated with thrash metal while in the 90’s it was all about grunge: flannel and combats with rock bands like KISS.
Today most bands focus on the music and have by- passed the theatrics of the 80’s and 90’s. However, this is not true for Ghost; they are the exception to the rule. Ghosts’ persona is all about the concept. The visuals are an integral part of the band’s musical performance. As important as the instruments they play.
Below we look at 10 important facts about the Swedish heavy metal that make it unique.
Satanism
Heavy metal bands have always been linked with satanism and religious imagery. Take for example, the initiators of the heavy metal genre Black Sabbath who were steeped in both. But with Ghost, they have taken the idea to a whole other level.
Their live performances are staged as churches with the music representing salvation and religious ritual. The musicians themselves, Nameless Ghouls, are clad in religious ceremonial dress with the frontman portraying the high priest.
Who are the Ghost’s frontmen
There have been four so far since the band’s inception. Papa Emeritus was the first and performed for the band’s debut album, Opus Eponymous. Replaced by Papa Emeritus II in 2012 and the release of the second studio album, Infestissumam.
The third studio album released in 2015, Meliora, was performed by Papa Emeritus III but in 2017 during a performance in Sweden he was publicly cast out and in his place Papa Emeritus 0, later called Papa Nihil, took his place. But in 2018 a new leader of Ghost was appointed, Cardinal Copia. The story is yet to unfold.
Concealment
Since the band came onto the scene back in 2006, they have sought to remain anonymous, rarely giving interviews and if and when some press duty is required it falls on the Nameless Ghouls to handle it, that would likely be Tobias Forge.
He was forced to reveal his identity in 2017. It is Forge who is presently acting as Cardinal Copia and he has in the past portrayed each one of the Papa Emeritus personas.
The others in the band continue to conceal their identities and will sign records at store events using symbols representing fire, earth, water, air and ether, in an effort to maintain the mystery.
The initiating of Ghost
Tobias Forge was part of the band Repugnant, a death metal band, and also Crashdiet, a sleaze metal band before forming Ghost. Forge came up with a sound that he himself said was “probably the heaviest metal riff that has ever existed”.
That was 2006 and the sound developed into the song “Stand by Him” which was on Opus Eponymous, Ghost’s first album. Forge formed the idea and characters of Ghost in order to fit with the dark sound of the music.
The death of Forge’s brother
Other tracks by Forge “Prime Mover” and “Death Knell” that were recorded in 2008 with Gustaf Lindstrom, from the Repugnant band. On March 12 2010 these songs were uploaded on MySpace and got loads of attention from companies wishing to sign the group.
Sadly, on that very day Forge’s elder brother, Sabastian, died from heart disease. Sebastian played an important role in Forge’s life being 13 years older. He was influenced by him and he introduced him to many people who would play a part in how Ghost would develop.
Widespread influences
While the black metal of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate were definitely the biggest influences on Forge, there were definitely other influences such as pop and AOR. It is true that different genres have been used to label Ghost, like for example, doom metal, hard rock and psychedelic rock but ultimately Ghost’s sound is fundamentally steeped in black metal.
Forge himself says they are influenced by “everything ranging from classic rock to the extreme underground metal bands of the 80s to film scores to the grandeur of emotional harmonic music.”
The difference between Ghost in the studio and Ghost live
In 2017 after Forge was forced to reveal his identity, because of a dispute involving royalties, he spoke about how he viewed Ghost. He talked about the band being a one man’s vision. It required hiring musicians to interpret and then perform his vision live.
Many of the instruments are recorded in the studio by Forge and he will invite musicians that he particularly likes when he feels they will be useful. Those band members who tour with Ghost are involved with other bands so Forge will call them only when needed.
The identity of a Nameless Ghoul
Most of the identities of the Nameless Ghouls remain hidden. But now and again the anonymity of some of Ghost’s Nameless Ghouls will not remain a mystery.
That was the case in August 2013 when Fuse News published an interview with Jack Osbourne which revealed that Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters frontman and one time Nirvana drummer, had been a Nameless Ghoul when he played with the band.
Barred in America
The images and musical themes of Ghost have not always put them in a favorable position. Finding a choir to perform for the Infestissuman album proved impossible in Nashville. Following the studio production, it was then not possible to find a company in the US willing to manufacture the album because of the graphic artwork.
Initially too, Ghost had great difficulty finding chain stores, TV shows or radio stations willing to “host” their music. Things have changed and they are more accepted by mainstream media now. In October 2015 Ghost appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert; it was a Halloween themed show.
Ghost have received many awards
Mainstream now fully accepts Ghost and with that they have won many awards in Sweden, their birthplace. Ghost won the award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Album continuously for three years in a row in the Swedish Grammies.
In 2014 for Infestissumam. In 2015 Meliora and 2016 EP Popestar. In 2016 they won the Best Metal Performance for the track “Cirice” on the Meliora album and then in 2019 they got noiminated for the Best Rock Album for Prequelle and BestRock Song with “Rats”.