GHOST Vinilo y CD

Review: Serving as the follow up to 2022's critically acclaimed and super cheesy by design stadium-goth opus Impera, Swedish rock occultists Ghost make their grand return with sixth full-length Skeleta. The vision of Tobias Forge, renowned for his charismatic vocal cadence and immense range, but more so for his undertaking of different characters and monikers for each album cycle, the Papa Emeritus IV delving into empirical fallacies on their previous outing has been usurped by Papa V Perpetua, who promises to deliver his band of Nameless Ghouls' "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas", touching on "demonic possessions" and the allure of succumbing to "dark forces". In other words, expect mammoth riffs, epic refrains, large doses of overt theatricality verging on camp, and on-the-nose song titles such as 'Satanized'.

Review: Skeleta marks the sixth full-length from Swedish theatrical goth rock entity Ghost, following on from 2022's retro stadium-goth swing for the fences Impera. Known for their high-concept aesthetic solely credited to mastermind Tobias Forge, who undertakes differing mantles and characters pertaining to each era and project, Papa Emeritus IV who fronted their preceding work has now been replaced by Papa V Perpetua, and while his predecessor was said to have been driven by ruminations on empirical reigns, the latest leader of the band of "Nameless Ghouls" is more concerned with "demonic possessions" and succumbing to "dark forces", with the album promised to be their "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas". With big riffs, soaring hooks and a lead single as brazenly titled as 'Satanized', it's time for yet another era of overtly gothic and purposefully cheesy occult-rock.

Review: The first hard rock album to land at Number One on the Billboard 200 in four years, Swedish rock occultists Ghost make their grand return with sixth full-length Skeleta, serving as the highly anticipated follow up to 2022's acclaimed and super camp-by-design stadium-goth rock opus Impera. Still the singular vision of Tobias Forge, renowned for his charismatic vocals and immense versatility, but primarily for his adorning of different guises, characters and monikers for each album cycle, the Papa Emeritus IV who pontificated on empirical fallacies throughout their previous outing has since been usurped by Papa V Perpetua, who along with his band of Nameless Ghouls deliver their "most unflinchingly introspective work to date" while showcasing "distinct individual emotional vistas", touching on "demonic possessions" and the allure of succumbing to "dark forces". In other words, expect a gloomy gauntlet of anthemic riffage, epic refrains, gargantuan levels of cheesy theatricality, and Satanic Panic bell-ringing on-the-nose song-titled such as 'Satanized'.

Review: Filmed over two nights at LA's Kia Forum, boasting Tobias Forge's charismatic stage presence and a setlist dominated by recent hits, this is a great example for how powerful the band is overall. Tracks like 'Kaisarion' and 'Watcher in the Sky' shine, especially with powerful choral backing and the haunting saxophone solo in 'Miasma.' The show balances theatrical spectacle and genuine warmth, with Forge's message of kindness resonating amid the glitz. While the setlist focuses on newer material, omitting earlier cult classics from Opus Eponymous and Infestissumam, Rite Here Rite Now still delivers a full-bodied, exhilarating experience. New track 'The Future Is a Foreign Land' closes the album on a high, blending retro vibes with catchy melodies and reinforcing Ghost's evolution toward melodic accessibility. A perfect blend of their recent material and their talent at performing them live with a great production.

Region code: NTSC

Review: Rite Here Rite Now, directed by GHOST's Tobias Forge and Alex Ross Perry, is an ambitious blend of live concert footage and narrative storytelling, picking up the threads of the band's Chapters series. This feature-length film captures GHOST's electrifying performances from their sold-out shows at Los Angeles's Kia Forum, coupled with a fictional narrative that delves deep into the band's mythos. The film promises a unique cinematic experience that melds the raw energy of live music with engaging plot elements, designed to both entertain and engage GHOST's fans into a deeper understanding of the band's artistic vision. This soundtrack to the film sets a new standard in the rock cinema genre, aiming to engage not just GHOST's dedicated followers but also lovers of innovative film-making and rock spectacle.

Review: A fresh, rare EP by Swedish rock band Ghost; Phantomime is an impressive side-stint for the band, its gimmick being five covers of standards by other prominent groups throughout the rock continuum. Flaunting their impressive and eclectic tastes, the EP contains covers of Television's 'See No Evil', Genesis' 'Jesus He Knows Me', The Stranglers' 'Hanging Around', Maiden's 'Phantom Of The Opera' and, yes, Tina Turner's 'We Don't Need Another Hero'. A fan service for the band's devilishly cultish followers, we're sure this'll successfully function as both a history lesson and fan initiation ritual.

Review: Phantomimea arrives through Loma Vista Recordings and is a brilliant new five-track cover EP from Ghost. Each and every tune is epic in its own way with material by Television, Genesis, The Stranglers, Iron Maiden and Tina Turner all chewed up and sat out in their own inimitable way. Though some of these sources are rather unlikely given Ghost's style they are all reworked with great respect. Ghost is in a great run of form having just won Best Rock Album of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, which itself came off last year's international chart-topping success Impera.

Review: Swedish theatrical death-rock icons in the making, Ghost, dropped one of the most ludicrously entertaining metal releases of 2022 with, 'Impera'. Now, while initially released in 2019, Tobias Forge (Papa Nihil during this incarnation) and his horde of nameless ghouls, have opted to re-distribute their excellent (and brilliantly titled), 'Seven Inches of Satanic Panic', EP. Credited as "two special tracks from the 1969 archives", even though the group formed in 2006; both the anthemic crunch of, 'Kiss the Go-Goat', and fan favourite, 'Mary On A Cross', have become essential staples of the Ghost banner, while the project served as a much-needed building block and source of replenishment following 2018's Prequelle.