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Ghost adds instrumental swagger
By John Benson
Ghost fans are being promised a completely different show from the Swedish heavy-metal act’s last Steel City appearance two years ago.
“We have added a little bit more of the instrumental swagger, and I think we stepped it up,” said a Nameless Ghoul calling from Sweden. (An explanation is in order: the band features lead singer Papa Emeritus III surrounded by musicians who are called Nameless Ghouls.)
As for that new swagger, this is a byproduct of confidence the band experienced after recording its recently released third studio album, “Meliora.” The aforementioned guitarist said in preparing for the band’s upcoming stateside tour, which includes a Friday show at the Stage AE in Pittsburgh, Ghost took a unique approach.
The outfit actually rehearsed. In fact, the guitarist admitted over the course of the past five years, which included its 2010 debut, “Opus Eponymous” and 2013’s “Infestissumam,” the group had more live shows under its belt than band rehearsals.
The result means not only are the band members playing at a high level, but the material found on “Meliora” has allowed Ghost to evolve into areas it never expected.
“It’s a few more ingredients of classic rock, shows that we really haven’t done in the past,” Nameless Ghoul said. “For once, you can really chop up the entire set list. And all of a sudden it feels like our repertoire is more of a smorgasbord rather than what we had to do in the past where we had to jam in as much as we could, which was basically everything we had.
“This time around, we sort of mixed it up a little bit more, so it contains so many more elements.”
Despite spreading its wings a bit, Ghost isn’t leaving behind its trademark elements. The band is known for its doom-and-gloom imagery, which for some is viewed as satanic or heretical.
In fact, over the years the band has ruffled the feathers of the Catholic Church, including being drawn into a controversy over a hamburger served at a Chicago restaurant. (Seriously, Google it). Also, there’s this: Papa Emeritus III dresses as an evil-looking papal figure.
So the question now is with Pope Francis being viewed as progressive, has the band softened its stance against organized religion?
“The Pope is not Christianity or linear religion,” the Nameless Ghoul said. “I personally think he seems to be a very cool guy, and I think they – as any corporation – are trying to move with the times because they need to survive. So, therefore, they employ someone who will represent them in a more modern way. They have to.
“He seems cool, but don’t forget they chose him for a reason. He’s not rebelling against everybody else and just about to get killed.”
There’s no doubt that heresy, especially in metal and hard rock, sells. For proof, there’s Ozzy Osbourne in the ’80s and Marilyn Manson in the ’90s. However, Nameless Ghoul stresses Ghost is anything but what he calls “Cookie Monster metal.” Further, he feels the band’s commentary isn’t heretical, as much as a mirror for society.
“Something that’s very often misunderstood about Ghost is people think we sing about God,” Nameless Ghoul said. “We’re singing about how we treat each other because of what somebody wrote in a book. That’s the problem. God isn’t the problem. You are the problem.”