ALBUM REVIEW: Prequelle – Ghost
The mystique and intrigue surrounding GHOST has reached fever pitch ever since their gig in Gothenberg where talismanic frontman Papa Emeritus III was unceremoniously kidnapped during the closing moments of their set. The confused attendees were then greeted by the frail, ageing presence of Papa Emeritus Zero who made the announcement that “The middle age is now beginning”. Various cryptic yet comedic social media snippets followed which led to the introduction of the new figurehead who shall be known as Cardinal Copia. He is not from the Emeritus bloodline but he comes equipped with a boombox and the 2nd most Employee Of The Month awards. Papa Emeritus Zero made the decision to immortalise his three sons by creepily displaying their casket ridden bodies throughout GHOST‘s recent tour dates. With a new driving force in Cardinal Copia the band are due to release their fourth studio full length release entitled Prequelle via Spinefarm Records/Loma Vista Recordings on June 1st. Will this new chapter see GHOST propel themselves further into becoming one of the most exciting metal bands to ever walk the planet?
Prequelle commences with the eerie tones of Ashes which consists of a haunting recital of ‘Ring A Ring ‘o Roses‘ before introducing a riff reminiscent of Cirice from their critically acclaimed Meliora album before kicking right into the theatrical vibe of first single Rats. This track has a particular Bohemian Rhapsody feel with its infectious grandiosity, offering a new and inviting approach whilst still maintaining the signature, addictive pace which we have come to know and love. It feels like the intensity has been dialled up a notch, especially the closing moments which are destined to incite a sea of headbanging. The premise of Rats plays on the historical events of the plague/black death creating an intriguing conceptual image.
Faith adopts a more ominous, dark sound but still maintains the energetic pace. The chorus is ridiculously accessible and is guaranteed to become lodged in your brain. The lyrical offerings of “I am all eyes, I am all ears” encompass a more religious/deity type sentiment giving you some food for thought . The guitar work is delightfully executed and sends shivers down your spine with its jumps between crunchy heaviness and floating subtleties. A church-like choir ushers in the proceeding track See The Light. A more minimalist approach is taken with a calming piano accompaniment before bursting into life with memorable hooks and powerful vocal passages following religious topics with the lyrics of “Drink me, Eat me”.
Miasma throws some quirky synths into the mix giving a nostalgic 70’s/80’s instrumental prog vibe upping the tempo as it progresses. The introduction of saxophone segments was a nice touch in what develops into a burst of feel good, no frills instrumentation which tees up the anthem of Dance Macabre. This track has already become an Instagram sensation with various stars featuring such as Phil Anselmo, Chris Jericho and Jessica Pimentel bopping along to what could be THE metal track of the summer. The stadium rock style groove is undeniable and it will without a doubt become the ultimate live experience for years to come. The chorus will inevitably become embedded on the tongue of many a rock enthusiast. It is so ludicrously accessible that it could easily gain a massive amount of radio air time with minimal effort.
Pro Memoria feels like the necessary comedown from the instant adrenaline rush of its predecessor. The echoing vocals and emotive piano tones are a sublime combination. The track reminds you about “your friend death” and that life is finite. This is GHOST at their theatrical best. Drawing you in with their majestic amalgamation of instrumentation. Violins overlaying the guitar solo makes this feel like a refreshing take on November Rain as the track laces itself in dramatic tones. Witch Image follows similar core principles. It is almost as if KING DIAMOND decided to stop being so gloomy and evil, abandoning his inverted crucifix to go bask in the sunlight.
Helvetesfonster roughly translated as “Hell Window”, possesses a slow but dramatic pace which builds up in intensity as it advances. Medieval/folk elements are incorporated alongside powerful synth outbursts creating a dramatic, intriguing mood before bells begin to chime ringing in the closing track Life Eternal. The emotive demeanour returns as vocal segments float by. The lyrical content is quite an intriguing concept based on if you were to hold the ability to live forever would you chose to do so? “Would you let me touch your soul forever” is a particularly poignant example of this. This could well turn into a focal point of their live sets as it is screaming out for a captivated audience to bellow it back in rapturous unison.
It is always a daunting prospect when a band decides to delve into the unknown and “break what isn’t broken” but GHOST yet again have managed to build on their already mind-blowing repertoire and somehow still manage to reinvent their sound without distance themselves from what brought them to the dance. Prequelle displays a brilliant formation of theatrical, dramatic and compelling elements which is very difficult to fault in any capacity and will have many frantically craving another play through. The era of Cardinal Copia is upon us and if GHOST continue to break boundaries in this fashion their trajectory is basically boundless.
Rating: 10/10
Prequelle is set for release on June 1st via Spinefarm Records/Loma Vista Recordings.
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