For the uninitiated, Ghost might seem a little like a parody of metal genres of old. They have, for example, the fist in the air metal sense of Judas Priest, but also the anthemic sense of a power metal band such as Savatage. But comparisons be gone…this Grammy winning band from Sweden is no joke. By the end of their hour long Saturday evening set, they had the crowd, myself included, hooked.
Their live show is something to behold as band members run around the stage all wearing what could be described as faceless ghoul masks and black formal wear. The songs truly rock and the huge choruses run their hooks deep into your neck. Lead singer Papa Emeritus pumps his fist, points, grabs and waves like a theater actor and hip thrusts, while one could in other circumstances consider cheesy, are totally appropriate here. I mean, no one would dare question the movements of Mick Jagger, right? The body language of all the musicians on stage bring the flair and sell it perfectly.
At one point during the show, I had the revelation. Ghost didn’t need to be compared to other bands and genres. They can truly be taken as quality entertainment. They’re larger than life and could probably seem just as at home supporting some sort of musical theater spectacle like Cirque du Soleil. Whether you’re into the message or not, it is without a doubt, a crazy fantasy to behold.
