Thanks for joining me for Riff Retrospective: Ghost “Opus Eponymous”! Check out the extended cut with even MORE riffs + theory, downloadable TABs, and NO ADS here! www.patreon.com/posts/91590380?
There's something so special about this album. Musically genius. I also cannot get tired of this album. The harmonies are simple yet super effective. Probably my favorite debut album of recent times. Ghoul Ben, you rock my friend.
The chord progressions on might be best described as "black metal channeled through 70s hard rock". Like the chord shapes and intervals are all over black metal but when you change the swagger and attitude from bombblast of tremolo picking to groove you end up with early Ghost. Which is why it all stands out.
Great video. 🤘 Meliora is my favourite, with Opus being second. My take is that they elevated their sound to more of an ”arena-level”, yet still maintaining an occult and spooky vibe from the first two albums.
They have zeroed in on a certain formula that really is working for them now. I like it all, and I love seeing such diverse crowds at their shows enjoying music that doesn't suck.
That Dunable guitar is GORGEOUS! And speaking of amazing a spooky twin guitar attacks (AND Mercyful Fate) ever think about covering the amazing guitar due of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner of early era Mercyful Fate? Those two guys are incredible.
Not taking away anything from these cool Ghost songs.....but Mercyful Fate are on a complete different level!🎸🤘🎸....and yes, i adore that Dunable guitar too....😜
Yes! I love this album! I remember seeing them perform this album during their club shows. The vibe back then was so mysterious, can't believe how big they've become, and they still are growing in popularity. Thanks Ben!
I haven't heard much from these guys, and I don't know what to say here... from everything you've shown and described.. to me, it seems like Ghost are frickin' genius composers. So much intricacy and thought put into it. I'm stunned, and a little p!ssed because I doubt I could write anything so creative. Great eye opening video and perspective.
I’ve just recently discovered ghost and have become completely obsessed. Opus is so simplistically genius. I’ve seen every ghost video you’ve made now and you helped me understand how they create this sound. Thanks uncle Ben!
I must have seen what was one of their very first concerts. They were the opening band, playing through a cursed, broken Mesa Rectifier and their whole stage show was backfiring on them. At the time nobody knew them and those who did usually laughed at them. But then they got really successful really quickly. No idea what they've been up to lately but quite an enjoyable band, they remind me of Blue Oyster Cult a lot.
I love that your riff retrospectives give me an even better appreciation of some of my favorite albums. Opus Eponymous was one of those "oh, this is gonna be one of my favorite bands" albums when it first dropped. I'm not a big fan of the Vegas Ghost direction of the last couple of records, but you can't deny Tobias' riffery and song-writing skills.
Another great addition to your Ghost Grimoire, thanks Uncle Ben! I especially like how you demonstrate the sound and vibe, then give a quick summary of the music theory behind it so we can reference it more easily in the future.
Awesome breakdowns. I love Opus Eponomus. I'd love to hear more stuff like this from Tobias and Co. Funny how that beginning of Genesis, I somehow thought that was finger tapping with both hands. Thanks for showcasing this album. Would love to see some Infestissumum.
Yes! Finally someone who gets why I've been absolutely infatuated with this band ever since hearing them in Stockholm at a live gig when they hadn't released their second album yet. As soon as I heard the solo on ritual I just had to learn the guitar part, which inevitably lead me to quickly delving into the rest of the album guitar wise. This album will always have a special place in my cold Swedish heart and ultimately made me a better guitar player by motivating me to learn solos for the first time.
This is what was lost with the new more pop rock style they are currently doing it seems the old band line up was just more unique and erie and as you have gone over more unusual guitar parts now days its a shred guy and a rhythm player just not so unique and complicated the first 3 records will always be my favorites the others not so much awesome job Ben thanks for this 👍🤘🔥
I absolutely LOVED that first Ghost album so much, but did not like any of the other records. I'm not sure what the heck happened, but i was so disappointed. But OPUS is an absolute classic with amazing song, riffs and a much creepier vibe.
Ghost is one of my favourite modern bands and have so many killer riffs, I first learned about them back in 2016 when Meliora had just come out and a friend of mine had shown me Cirice and I started to get more into them a few years ago after meeting a friend at college who was a massive fan of them and talking with him about the band. Ritual still has to be my personal favourite song off the album but everything else is also absolutely killer, Tobias Forge and the rest of the Nameless Ghouls really know how to compose some killer riffs and I do agree that Ghost is an awesome band to listen to during Halloween. If I could also suggest some albums for future Riff Retrospective albums, I'd love to see the self-titled or Toxicity from System of a Down, Era Vulgara from Queens of the Stone Age, Bloody Kisses by Type O Negative, some more Ghost like Meliora (my personal favourite album from them) or Prequelle or Powerslave, Somewhere In Time or the self-titled debut album by Iron Maiden. Awesome video as always, man, keep up the awesome work and happy Halloween
This band is the sole reason why I a) picked up guitar again after 5 five years of not playing, b) decided to start learning music theory because I wanted to figure out how and why the hell their riffs work when they fucking absolutely should not, and c) approached you for some lessons, only to be met with a stepdad level of rejection \m/
Would be cool to see a riff retrospective on the earlier Mastodon records Lifesblood/Call of the Mastodon & Remission. Keep doing what you are doing uncle Ben 🖤
EXCELLENT...Please good buddy UNCLE BEN, do your special video/guitar lessen everybody is waiting for: THE GUITAR SOLO FOR "BEAT IT" - EVH forever!!! 💜💙💚
I used to play along with those first 3 albums all the way through on guitar or bass ALL the time. Still some of my favorite albums of all time but they have definitely lost me on the last few.
Would you say the main 'tone' of this record is mostly vintage marshall type? I know Ghost used Orange heads/cabs at this time in 2010? Also, when I hear this album, I swear most of the guitar is on the neck pickup.
Ghost wrote my all-time favorite record, and this is it. It is timeless to me. There is something in that sound that makes me seem like there is more to it than just music But then they never wrote another note of music that I cared for ever again. It is the weirdest and most unexplainable thing in the world to me. I don’t like anything they ever did after that.
There should be a warning from Surgeon General on their albums that it's detrimental to your mental health to listen to Ghost more than one hour a day. Now, only a month after discovering this band, my brain is completely fried and I pledge my soul to Satan, Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer, Nostro dis pater, Mephistopheles, Morning Star and Little Sunshine - he is the shining light without whom I cannot see! Welcome Year Zero! P. S. I hold you directly responsible for this, BEN!
Whats your opinion on more recent Ghost albums? I think they lost haviness completely, plus a lot of evil sounding parts and spookiness is mostly gone. Now their music is infused with a lot of pop sounding stuff from 70/80s. I personally dont like that change and miss what first three albums were about. Prequelle has some of its highlights such as Faith with some cool leads and heavy riffs. Helvetesfonster and Miasma are fenomenal, much different than what they did in the past but those songs are enagaging pieces of music composed very tastefully. Especially the first one that has medieval vibe to me. However impera is my least favourite, i dont really come back to it, a lot of songs dont feel like they are from the same album (hunters moon, twenties, kaisarion) i think its just my resentment towards flashy songs that are major sounding. If we celebrated halloween in Poland i would definitely play the intro to Heir Appaerent to get in that spirit!
It's interesting how Ghost fans are divided. Personally I don't like their older albums, the newer stuff is not only easier to listen to, but have better guitar tones (especially live) and are easier to show other people.
Just my opinion, but for the first three albums (with the original lineup) they were the best, their songs just hit different. Since then i don’t find their new songs fascinating anymore.
Haters will never know how good early ghost was. First 3 albums were incredible, the dark evil live shows they put on were something special. Too bad tobias had to mustaine the band and turn it into something i can only describe as cock rock now.
Thanks for joining me for Riff Retrospective: Ghost “Opus Eponymous”! Check out the extended cut with even MORE riffs + theory, downloadable TABs, and NO ADS here! www.patreon.com/posts/91590380?
There's something so special about this album. Musically genius. I also cannot get tired of this album. The harmonies are simple yet super effective. Probably my favorite debut album of recent times. Ghoul Ben, you rock my friend.
So wish they would go back to this style a little bit
Maaaaan, me too. They do it so well!!!
Nah, you're getting water-y pop shite for Tumblr girls now.
Enjoy, I guess..
Agree 💯
@@BenEller Tobias implementing into Ghost too much Subvision than Repugnant these days..
Tobias Forge played all the guitars on this album so he really did a great job of writing different parts for himself.
The chord progressions on might be best described as "black metal channeled through 70s hard rock". Like the chord shapes and intervals are all over black metal but when you change the swagger and attitude from bombblast of tremolo picking to groove you end up with early Ghost.
Which is why it all stands out.
You’re the reason I found ghost. 👻. Now years later I still love them.
Elizabeth best my favorite by far.🎉
"Scooby Doo meets Slayer sounding" . That was spot on :)
Halloween + Ghost = power move. Good work Uncle Ben❤
Great video. 🤘
Meliora is my favourite, with Opus being second. My take is that they elevated their sound to more of an ”arena-level”, yet still maintaining an occult and spooky vibe from the first two albums.
They have zeroed in on a certain formula that really is working for them now. I like it all, and I love seeing such diverse crowds at their shows enjoying music that doesn't suck.
Just please do every Ghost album the right way and I’ll love you forever
Your intro music is quite ghostly and seasonally SPOOOOOOKY as well!
Thanks, Uncy Bang!
These twins are amazing guitar players ...
That Dunable guitar is GORGEOUS!
And speaking of amazing a spooky twin guitar attacks (AND Mercyful Fate) ever think about covering the amazing guitar due of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner of early era Mercyful Fate?
Those two guys are incredible.
Not taking away anything from these cool Ghost songs.....but Mercyful Fate are on a complete different level!🎸🤘🎸....and yes, i adore that Dunable guitar too....😜
@@gearViewmirror Right on, man! As you can tell from my profile pic, I am a huge Mercyful Fate fan. IMO they are the best metal band ever!
I love this album. I really wished Ghost made another one with the similar vibe before transitioning to the Infestissumam sound.
Absolutely great jams
Yes! I love this album! I remember seeing them perform this album during their club shows. The vibe back then was so mysterious, can't believe how big they've become, and they still are growing in popularity.
Thanks Ben!
I too love ghost… I couldn’t look away. Thanks uncle Ben.
Pls do more riff retrospectives they're some of my favorites
Love making these. More coming, for sure!
That Dunable is beautiful
Thanks! Love it!
@@BenEller I think Sacha makes the best guitars available today
Awesome stuff
I haven't heard much from these guys, and I don't know what to say here... from everything you've shown and described.. to me, it seems like Ghost are frickin' genius composers. So much intricacy and thought put into it. I'm stunned, and a little p!ssed because I doubt I could write anything so creative. Great eye opening video and perspective.
the genius is all Tobias Forge...he is 100% Ghost and sole composer
That Dunable is sick as hell.
Can't wait to get my mitts on those tabs.
sounds amazing!!!
Video is worth watching for that guitar sound alone, before even getting into the riffs.
I love that tone!
I’ve just recently discovered ghost and have become completely obsessed. Opus is so simplistically genius. I’ve seen every ghost video you’ve made now and you helped me understand how they create this sound. Thanks uncle Ben!
Epic video. Look forward to following along with the tabs.
This album is timeless. Thanks for doing this, Ben!!!
Loving the use of the old goosebumps theme in the intro ❤
I must have seen what was one of their very first concerts. They were the opening band, playing through a cursed, broken Mesa Rectifier and their whole stage show was backfiring on them. At the time nobody knew them and those who did usually laughed at them. But then they got really successful really quickly. No idea what they've been up to lately but quite an enjoyable band, they remind me of Blue Oyster Cult a lot.
I love that your riff retrospectives give me an even better appreciation of some of my favorite albums. Opus Eponymous was one of those "oh, this is gonna be one of my favorite bands" albums when it first dropped. I'm not a big fan of the Vegas Ghost direction of the last couple of records, but you can't deny Tobias' riffery and song-writing skills.
Dude, “Vegas Ghost”… hahaha that’s completely it!
Next album gonna be “Viva Ghost Vegas”
@@BenEller haha perfect!
Loved this, such a great album and such an awesome band
I just relistened to the first 2 ghost albums, I like them all but these are my faves, awesome vid!
Ahhhh love this so much, thank you!🩶
Another great addition to your Ghost Grimoire, thanks Uncle Ben! I especially like how you demonstrate the sound and vibe, then give a quick summary of the music theory behind it so we can reference it more easily in the future.
YES! Been hoping for this!
Awesome breakdowns. I love Opus Eponomus. I'd love to hear more stuff like this from Tobias and Co. Funny how that beginning of Genesis, I somehow thought that was finger tapping with both hands. Thanks for showcasing this album. Would love to see some Infestissumum.
Ben Eller, the only person on this planet that could get me to wanna check out a Ghost album.
You've been missing out.
I discover you with a Ghost video.
I join your Patron for Ghost tab.
So thx ! ❤
Thank you! Enjoy!
Such a great album
The album definitely stands out (now) as the odd-man out. But, I love all the albums…and I think it’s just that Tobias is the driving force.
Man their early stuff was amazing. Crazy how big of a left turn they took considering Tobias used to stand still for the most part on stage 😂
Yes! Finally someone who gets why I've been absolutely infatuated with this band ever since hearing them in Stockholm at a live gig when they hadn't released their second album yet.
As soon as I heard the solo on ritual I just had to learn the guitar part, which inevitably lead me to quickly delving into the rest of the album guitar wise.
This album will always have a special place in my cold Swedish heart and ultimately made me a better guitar player by motivating me to learn solos for the first time.
YES thank you Ben I fuckin love this album!
This is what was lost with the new more pop rock style they are currently doing it seems the old band line up was just more unique and erie and as you have gone over more unusual guitar parts now days its a shred guy and a rhythm player just not so unique and complicated the first 3 records will always be my favorites the others not so much awesome job Ben thanks for this 👍🤘🔥
my my that goosebumps on the title screen.
Great lesson! Hopefully a meet the machine video coming soon for that UA pedal? Sounds real nice.
Your tone is awesome on this video, don't know if it's the pedal or the guitar but it's both precise and heavy
Thanks dude! Both are amazing!
Killer new Dunable!
My fav Ghost album! ❤
@19:47 sounds like a Katma to Burn riff
Sick video as always, Uncle Ben! Intronaut is another band that does great asymmetric riffs in their songs.
Looooove that band. Obviously, Sacha built my guitar! Haha
Thanks uncle Bill
I absolutely LOVED that first Ghost album so much, but did not like any of
the other records.
I'm not sure what the heck happened, but i was so disappointed.
But OPUS is an absolute classic with amazing song, riffs and a much creepier vibe.
You should do Infestissumam, but this is fantastic. Have learnt like 80-85 per cent of the riffs, but this fills it in. Great tone, it's very close!
I’m not familiar with Ghost except for the movie but your playing is very inspirational!
Thanks for the cool licks.
Is there ANY way you would ever consider doing some Mercyful Fate breakdowns for us fans who love metal with a spooky twist??? 🦇💀🦇
WoW, very good Vid, Will watch you much more. Cylon.
That album cover too❤
Ghost is one of my favourite modern bands and have so many killer riffs, I first learned about them back in 2016 when Meliora had just come out and a friend of mine had shown me Cirice and I started to get more into them a few years ago after meeting a friend at college who was a massive fan of them and talking with him about the band. Ritual still has to be my personal favourite song off the album but everything else is also absolutely killer, Tobias Forge and the rest of the Nameless Ghouls really know how to compose some killer riffs and I do agree that Ghost is an awesome band to listen to during Halloween. If I could also suggest some albums for future Riff Retrospective albums, I'd love to see the self-titled or Toxicity from System of a Down, Era Vulgara from Queens of the Stone Age, Bloody Kisses by Type O Negative, some more Ghost like Meliora (my personal favourite album from them) or Prequelle or Powerslave, Somewhere In Time or the self-titled debut album by Iron Maiden. Awesome video as always, man, keep up the awesome work and happy Halloween
This band is the sole reason why I a) picked up guitar again after 5 five years of not playing, b) decided to start learning music theory because I wanted to figure out how and why the hell their riffs work when they fucking absolutely should not, and c) approached you for some lessons, only to be met with a stepdad level of rejection \m/
Would be cool to see a riff retrospective on the earlier Mastodon records Lifesblood/Call of the Mastodon & Remission. Keep doing what you are doing uncle Ben 🖤
Surprised you didn't use the DE R2 for this one!
Uncle ben kills it!
Hey Ben,
First time, long time!
When you say you are running it though the power sections not the front, wha does that mean? Thanks!
I am running the pedal into the FX return of the Marshall, which means it is only running through the volume-producing part of the amp.
I just woke and found this post and it has already made my fcking day.Thanks Uncle Ben. If Tobias asked, would you join Ghost?
EXCELLENT...Please good buddy UNCLE BEN, do your special video/guitar lessen everybody is waiting for: THE GUITAR SOLO FOR "BEAT IT" - EVH forever!!! 💜💙💚
I think ALL ghost albuns are awesome
I need a couple Scooby snacks before I tackle these spooky R-R-Roast riffs.
I used to play along with those first 3 albums all the way through on guitar or bass ALL the time. Still some of my favorite albums of all time but they have definitely lost me on the last few.
Dunable makes the best guitars 🎸 🤘🏼Yeti is my fav
that first record had some good riffs hidden among all the scooby doo chase music
And maybe I happen to like Scooby Doo chase music?!
Con Clavi Con Dio. Good to know Im not the only one that thinks this is an amazing song
bottom line, they sound evil and cool. LIke Slayer in smoking jacket lol
Yeah I heard South of Heaven in that Slayer AF riff.
Or Mandatory Suicide. After how many years, Slayer are still a reference point for metal riffs.
It's like a less complicated and less 'all over the place' Mastodon
I don't like to listen to the songs of this band but the riffs isolated sound awesome lol
getting def leppard "hysteria" vibes from the "genesis" intro on guitar.
Some Type-O Negative next year would be cool. Perhaps covering the big goth chad's big guitar parts.
Oh man, what a perfect album for the season!
Yaaaas!
Uncle Ben! Any chance of hearing anything having to do with Impera’s guitar work??
Ben! Where would I find this tone on the Quad Cortex?
Not used the QC much at all. But a Marshall super lead or Orange Rockerverb style amp would be a good start.
Would you say the main 'tone' of this record is mostly vintage marshall type? I know Ghost used Orange heads/cabs at this time in 2010?
Also, when I hear this album, I swear most of the guitar is on the neck pickup.
Ghost wrote my all-time favorite record, and this is it. It is timeless to me. There is something in that sound that makes me seem like there is more to it than just music
But then they never wrote another note of music that I cared for ever again. It is the weirdest and most unexplainable thing in the world to me. I don’t like anything they ever did after that.
Ripping off Bathory for Elizabeth is actually really fitting because the song is about Elizabeth Bathory
There should be a warning from Surgeon General on their albums that it's detrimental to your mental health to listen to Ghost more than one hour a day. Now, only a month after discovering this band, my brain is completely fried and I pledge my soul to Satan, Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer, Nostro dis pater, Mephistopheles, Morning Star and Little Sunshine - he is the shining light without whom I cannot see!
Welcome Year Zero!
P. S. I hold you directly responsible for this, BEN!
Meliora is my fav
Sabbath vibes
Hey, Dave Mustaine just called. Wants his Symphony of Destruction-riff back
i want to sound like paul leary on dust devil all day, everyday, until i die
👻🤘🏼
Ghost's guitar parts use the buddy system.
Whats your opinion on more recent Ghost albums? I think they lost haviness completely, plus a lot of evil sounding parts and spookiness is mostly gone. Now their music is infused with a lot of pop sounding stuff from 70/80s. I personally dont like that change and miss what first three albums were about. Prequelle has some of its highlights such as Faith with some cool leads and heavy riffs. Helvetesfonster and Miasma are fenomenal, much different than what they did in the past but those songs are enagaging pieces of music composed very tastefully. Especially the first one that has medieval vibe to me. However impera is my least favourite, i dont really come back to it, a lot of songs dont feel like they are from the same album (hunters moon, twenties, kaisarion) i think its just my resentment towards flashy songs that are major sounding. If we celebrated halloween in Poland i would definitely play the intro to Heir Appaerent to get in that spirit!
It's interesting how Ghost fans are divided. Personally I don't like their older albums, the newer stuff is not only easier to listen to, but have better guitar tones (especially live) and are easier to show other people.
Same here. Meliora was the first album that wasn’t “nope”
Sorry, had to pause the video to check out that guitar. Woah those are some pricey boys. Still sick looking though.
Yes and they’re worth every penny! Check out the import DE line, they’re fantastic too!
Yep, the DE line definitely competes with PRS and Reverend at the ~$1000 price point
Just my opinion, but for the first three albums (with the original lineup) they were the best, their songs just hit different. Since then i don’t find their new songs fascinating anymore.
It’s all about the RIFFS! The old stuff had some many killer cuts.
10:12 “69! Nice!” 😏
Haters will never know how good early ghost was. First 3 albums were incredible, the dark evil live shows they put on were something special. Too bad tobias had to mustaine the band and turn it into something i can only describe as cock rock now.
Who?
When???
@@BenEller 🤣