“There is no ghost so difficult to lay as the ghost of an injury.”~ A. Smith
You probably should not read this blog post if you are:
- A fan of the band, Ghost.
- Not a fan of heavy metal music.
- Not a fan of music with dark, satanic lyrics and images.
- Have a weak stomach with topics of Satan.
About a week ago, I was introduced to yet another band from the area of Scandinavians.
Next stop: Sweden.
Ghost (or Ghost B.C., depending on legal battles in the courts) is a band that got started in 2008 in the town of Linköping, Sweden.
I had heard about this band, and did some research on them. Finding that they had a censored and uncensored version of their music video that has come from their latest album. When I found the uncensored version, it was nothing but a group of women down frolicking around naked, from the young to the mature to even the elderly. And then at the end the lead singer pulling up his evil robes to flail out his giggleberries and skin submarine. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over??????
I sent this stuff to my brother since he had the guts to “proclaim” himself an experienced professional in the realm and genre of heavy metal music.
Usually when I am writing to him, and I tell him that I think some band sucks or whatever… he will write me back and debate me about it.
But with the band Ghost, he did not argue or debate. Rather he said that it didn’t sound like metal at all, but rather some random pop style of hard rock with melodies oozing from the nose.
It was basically his way of saying that if you listen to the CD, you’ll end up with a nose bleed.
Personally though, I can only withstand so much. 
I understand their gimmick. Their garb and dress as if they are members of an undead, evil, and Satanic order of monks for live performances on stage or other public events. The idea of hiding behind the mask of anonymity. And of course their lyrical content heavily surrounding the idea of Satan.
Whatever. Bands from that area have been doing that for many decades. Some still very popular, some not so much.
However the band members themselves don’t even consider their music to be as such. I seriously question the thought or idea that Ghost is a “heavy metal” band. Their own words (if you find the right interviews online) call it Vaudeville-type of music. Something coming from the mid-1970’s said another interview.
Ghost does not have the dirty or “cookie monster” vocals as many bands from that area have. Bands I should say that are still around today. The vocals are clean. You can understand what is being sung. And they aren’t intimidating either. The vocal range isn’t dark and scary. In fact it is closer to a tenor’s voice, or even higher! I think THAT is the scary bit.
For example, “Body and Blood” which talks about the Christian ideology of The Last Supper where the disciples of Jesus Christ are to consume the “body and blood”, establishing what the Christian church calls “Communion”… the lyrical content is downright disgusting! Its abhorrent. But the vocal style is of a young man who has had a bad day, but then all of a sudden found a puppy and is allowing the puppy to lick his face and he’s happy to have the opportunity.
You don’t knock down the religion of Christianity with specific vocal words such as “defecate” and expect to be having the best day of your life! Geez. 
Unfortunately for me there are a few things that I can let go and accept.
I think that the whole idea of evil monks and an “Undead Pope” as it were, is a terrifying idea to behold. Especially on stage. I think that the anonymity of the band members is cool. After all, American bands such as KISS and Slipknot attempted their own reign of their identity being kept secret. But eventually KISS and Slipknot would fall. I for a change, hope that Ghost is able to keep it going for their entire career. I think that the Satanic lyrics are nothing but show. Band members have specifically admitted to this fact. Their own beliefs are not what they sing about. They admit to it being an act, just something to entertain.
But I cannot take this entire force of darkness and evil and Satan and have it flow into my ears like a soft-spoken willow of a man.
I cannot let go of their gimmick when they look as silly as this.
I’ve seen live performances of the one and only song that I can stomach. The lead singer DOES have a good singing voice. But everything does not match up with their dark and evil gimmicks. What bullshit do I call!!! Their summoning of the various demons and beasts throughout various religions and mythologies can send chills down your spine. But then as soon as the first few musical notes hit, you’d believe that you were some 1960’s southern California carnival.
Anton LaVey would be soooooooooooooooooo tickled.
But this is NOT metal. Thankfully I have not seen it labelled as Black or Death metal. I’ll flip a lid and be writing another post about it if I actually find out that it is being called that. Its BARELY metal at all. And I would have reservations even saying that much.
Come on guys…. YOU ARE FROM SWEDEN!!!!!! You’re supposed to know better than this if you are coming out as a “metal” band. And if you did not have the intentions of coming as a metal band but a rock band, you should have said something.
I do not know how long this band will last. They’ve been to the United States of America a few times. But I don’t know how long that will make them stick around. Like I said, I HOPE they can keep up with their mystery of who’s in the band. Although there are rumors of who the lead singer is already and based on facial recognition programs and pictures of him in his corpse paint, it might not be that hard to figure out.
Dambreaker 