Its worth adding (because I dont see it clearly explained in the comments) that Tobias (The Creator, Lead Singer/ Front Man and main songwriter) performs whilst in a full head silicone mask which has then been painted. The face you see is not his, it is a mask covering his face. His vocal range and talent to be able to sing so clearly whilst wearing a full head mask is insane.
@@robinlove6981 no it's true. Look up Tobias forge. Without the mask he looks so different. Plus he wears those grey contacts on his eyes while on stage. I miss when it was the norm to not just become famous but also have a larger than life stage personality that people will remember, and this band does that and then some. Who are the ghouls? Like seriously people don't even know who is behind some of those masks but they still respect the hell out of their music. I like that.
I'm a 56 y/o retired old rocker and although I can't tell you why, I love this band. It most certainly is a "whole package" type band with great theatrics that makes their music catchy as hell. I love to see people's reactions to this band. To me, the devil stuff is clearly theatrics and can even be quite comical when you throw in peoples reactions to it. All good entertainment!
@@thatthingthatisaid65 You're correct... that's the tongue in cheek of the whole song... "tickle you internally".. "But through all the sorrow, we've been riding high"... "Not just another bloody Mary".. If you're familiar with the Ghost lore.. this song is supposedly from an EP "rerelease" from the late 60''s with Papa Nihil.. the first ever singer of the band :-)
I am certainly not a gatekeeper, but remembering how i went to my first ghost concert years ago in a small venue in 2017 and how they are now only playing in arenas and hours away from me .... makes me tear up a bit. especially since i couldnt attend in 2022 due to an emergency and 2019 i had to leave early because my friend got really sick. :S
@@pobrelatrine its funny how this song got popular on tiktok, meanwhile I got it recommended while listening to my own spotify playlist . its funny cause I knew ghost for 6-7 year already and mostly from songs like cirice or square hammer and I never watched any of their tiktoks stil spotify brought it to me to not miss out on the hype haha.
Swedish people for some reason have a natural ability to come up with ridiculously good melodies. It's very unique. You hear it with everything from AVICII, to In Flames, to Abba to Ghost. And the melodies have a distinct Swedish vibe to it, it's unmistakable. Hell, even Max Martin is Swedish. They have a cheat code for hook writing, I've never seen anything like it in music.
Not too mention Swedes along with the Dutch and Finnish have amazing music and Vocaliats. Tommy Johansson is one of the best male vocalists currently but is better known as the lead guitarist of Sabaton another Swedish Band.
Roxette, The Cardigans, Ace of Base when it comes to pop among countless legendary rock bands, from Europe to Bathory, Entombed and Grave and from Candlemass and Opeth to Tiamat and At The Gates
None of you mentioned Yngwie Malmsteen. Tsk tsk. The guy practically invented neoclassical guitar, and from an influence standpoint is about on the same level as Eddie Van Halen.
@@m.p.749 Kiss the goat is a big hit too, and it's got enough bounce that our 19 month old loves it too. I've been enjoying Call me Little Sunshine too
@@devinkerr5474 same! my toddler also loves call me little sunshine. lol the irony that a toddler loves rock music over nursery rhymes always gets me laughing. Ghost is such a wonderful band for any age
@@m.p.749 I find the trappings of genre jsut don't apply for our baby. I can play Ghost, Powerwolf, Saltatio Mortis, Sabaton, Dorthy, Iron Maiden, Amon Amarth, and she bounces to it all
6:20 You described Ghost to a T. Tobias Forge, their lead singer/chief songwriter, is a guy who both loves heavy music AND understands catchy pop hooks. Ghost's music is a perfect cocktail of dark imagery and accessible melodies. They're absolutely amazing!
First time I ever saw Ghost was almost 9 years ago in a converted skating rink in Oklahoma City on like a Tuesday night. If there were over 200 people there, I'll eat my hat. It's basically one dude who writes everything. He would switch outfits from the lead 'Priest' outfit to the anonymous band outfit and walk through the crowd. He would talk to everyone. Everyone thought it was just another fan. I asked him about how much he spent to make the outfit (which is a perfect replica of the one the singer wore on stage) and he said he paid just over $100,000 US for all 8 of them. I giggled, took a pic of him and walked off. Few years later, Nergal of Behemoth is giving an interview and he is talking about the outfits his band wears and he said they cost about $50 depending on which thrift shop the find and said, "It's not like that Ghost dude dropping $100k on 8 outfits". Nergal being the guy who posted a picture of himself and Tobias in street clothes with a caption that said: "If you've got Ghosts". Then I realized that guy in my picture wasn't a fan at all. It was Tobias without the fake accent he uses on stage just being a regular dude walking in the audience 20 minutes before the opening band hit the stage. I've seen them live 5 times now (3 as headliners, 2 as opening band) and they kill it every time. 20 years after the great Satanic Panic wiped through America, this dude wins a Grammy, an AMA and sells out arenas singing about Satan. They recorded their 2nd album in Nashville. All except for the intro of one song which requires a chorus singing 6 variations on Satan's name (Year Zero) and they had to go to LA to find a chorus that would record the lines. The dude can write a catchy song in about 7 different rock styles from death metal to praise-and-worship. Loves Metallica, Kiss and Pink Floyd and can easily sound like any of them.
I saw Ghost in Webster Hall in NYC in 2013 in the small room. There were about 200 people there too. It was incredible. I've been an enourmous fan ever since, though I wish they stuck with the heavier stuff at times. This song is an undeniable banger though as is most of their music
@cschneer Back when I first heard of them, all of their stuff was online and free (still in the GhostBC days). They only had the 2 LP and one EP. They did have quite a few amature concert videos. There was one in either Argentina or Brazil. Lollapalooza and, maybe, Coachella. The outdoor festival shows were very different since they had all the stage space they needed, great sound equipment and most were in broad daylight. Their indoor shows were usually very small and made good use of lighting. They've always used that same multi-level stage approach but in that converted skating rink in OKC they could only use 2 and a half levels and the keys Ghoul had to hunch over or slam his head on the ceiling. During that stretch, the best show I saw in terms of quality of audio and video plus a location that could facilitate the whole show was in New York and thinking back almost 10years ago, I think that was Webster Hall. Was that the show you were at? 2013 is in that time period
I really need Michael to listen to Respite on the Spitalfields. I know he said Ghost is hooky and maybe more “poppy” but I genuinely thing he would lose his mind at some of the amazing riffs and solos in that song.
I saw them in Trenton, NJ. The guitars were so loud. Super LOUD and I loved every second of it. I took my 17 yo son and left the show having just seen one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Ghost is flat out amazing. They won a grammy in 2015, and now and AMA in 2022. They troll the church, its very tongue in cheek, but they are top level song writers, and artists. I'm a guitarist, and play in cover bands, but love how Ghost has brought some of the best tricks and tips from the 70's and 80's into popular music today.
I had heard this song on shitty TikToks and never knew who it was. Then I saw a RUclips short of the vocalist throwing the first pitch at a baseball game and looked them up. First song I heard was "Little Sunshine" and I've been hooked ever since.
You're absolutely right they are from Sweden and all about theatrics. The band is the brainchild of lead singer Tobias Forge. I think he said in an early interview something along the lines of: "What if there was this classic rock band that used to be huge, but that I for some reason completely missed out on? What would they look like? How they sound?". The masks, the stage design and the costumes have been there since day one. Even their identities were kept completely secret for the first couple of years until it became public information after a lawsuit. For anyone interested, there's a good interview with Tobias on loudwires channel here on RUclips, where it's just him with an acoustic guitar (PRS!) talking about songwriting and influences.
I'm a big hard rock fan, especially the 80's. I discovered Ghost 3 weeks ago. I've listened to all their songs 10x each and I can't stop. I['ve watched every video and concert I can find on YT. I've never been as obsessed with a band before.
That happened to me 1 year ago, at the moment I’m still hering his songs thousands of times and watching every video on RUclips about them xd, Ghost is such a vibe, best band for me 🤘🏻
I'm a 54 year old lifelong drummer, percussionist and singer who is finally working to realize my dream of playing guitar. I can't explain all the why's, but this is one of those performances moved me. Michael, my eyes were tearing up while I was trying to pick out the guitar part. There IS much to be said for scoring and orchestrating for the purpose of creating an emotion... THEN adding the drama to emphasize that some emotion. wELL-FREAKING-DONE Ghost. Thank you Michael for bring this to my attention, and for helping me begin to understand this instrument that I've thought was beyond me for so long.
@@Lurch685 I’ve never liked or even understood the term “butt rock.” What even qualifies as that? Usually it’s just high energy, somewhat cheesy, feel-good rock. What’s wrong with that?
The organ immediately stood out to me, which is a cool little connection given what the song is about. First time hearing this band, but I like the theatrics, and I bet the concerts and the people who go to them are super fun.
Be sure to stay in D standard when playing Ghost! And I hope you check out songs like the Grammy winning Cirice or Absolution! This song specifically was composed to emulate the sound of the 60's
This song is so good, but there are other songs that are more technically challenging and complex. Songs like dance macabre, square hammer, and spillways are some of my favorites!
You should absolutely check out their entire library, this would be considered one of the more popular songs, but they have some incredible metal/glam metal songs and riffs. Absolutely one of my favorite bands.
Mary On A Cross is the gateway drug to all things Ghost. I trust that you, as a guitar teacher, have taken the next steps and gotten fully immersed in their art. As much as I love this song, it only scratches the surface of what Ghost is. That quality of leading the listeners, musicians or not, through the experience, and to the ecstacy of a conclusion is what makes Tobias Forge. You ain’t heard nuthin yet. And don’t underestimate the musical savvy of Ghost fans. Once we find them, really, no ther music is as satisfying.
My favorite part about this song is that within the bands lore, it’s a 60s anthem that propelled Papa Nihil to stardom. Also the song originally was released on a Friday the 13th so even better for the band.
I know that the guitarists that are currently in this band are EXTREMELY talented! They used to be anonymous officially, but just revealed their identities and the lead guitarist is named Per Eriksson. I'm unfortunately not very familiar with the swedish metal scene myself, but apparently he is a incredibly respected artist there.
You hit the nail on the head...it is theatre and that is what Tobias Forge aimed to accomplish. Ghost is an amazing band and I am glad to hear your appreciation. I hope you listen to their back catalogue to see how they have progressed and to learn more about Tobiass vision
I absolutely love this version of the song. They keyed it down quite a bit from the original (B Major) and they added the backup vocals during the chorus from the Ghoulette. It embodies the spirit of the song so much better. I also love that the new key for Mary on a Cross is the same key as Danse Macabre, another one of their songs from Prequelle album.
Yes - Ghost is a swedish band!!! 😉🇸🇪🙌 Saw Ghost first time 2014 here in Sweden @ Sweden Rock Festival - on a smaller stage! For 2023:s festival they are headlining one of the nights and they have become really big over the years! Tobias is obviously doing something right! 😜🎼👍🎸🙌🇸🇪🇸🇪
You really do need to look into the whole concept of the band! I, like so many others, am an older fan and I just can't get enough of them. I've been to two "rituals" this year, and I can't wait until they come back to the states, it is just such a great show to see. Check out some more of their songs, their story, and also the video shorts "Chapters" that they have uploaded to their channel. They are indeed a whole package!
Your video popped up so I watched it. New subscriber here. I am a bass player :) You totally remind me of my reaction to this band as well. First time I seen them live was back in 2017 opening for Iron Maiden in Toronto Ontario. I really didn't think much of them. My 17 year old son just recently got into their music. I started listening to them more this year. We went and seen their own tour back in Sept 2022. I all have to say is Wow. This band is amazing. I started looking more into Tobias Forge, he is a genius. He writes all the music and is an amazing front man. I'm sure by now you have listened to a lot more of Ghost's music. Very hooky, love all the mix of 60's to now sounds. Amazing band.
He hit it on the head. Ghost’s popularity really centers around Tobias writing one hook after another. Just when you lock into the verse and think it’s just great, then the chorus comes and that’s even better than the verse. His songs are just singable melody after singable melody. Not east to do but this band locks you in and doesn’t let you go.
Alice Cooper, David Bowie long before even Kiss were theatrical, these guys are awesome..being at a Ghost concert was so much fun and exciting,,,kind of like seeing Meatloaf for the first time.
This band are certainly huge! They won a gramy for their song 'cirice' and mutiple other awards. They most definitely are making thier place in the music industry 🤟
I'm what one might call a music snob, and am all about Jazz Fusion, ProgRock, and Classical. But, I discovered Ghost back in 2016, with the song Square Hammer, and from there I've become a HUGE Ghost fanatic! My favorite album is still Infestissumam, but, both Prequelle and Inpera have completely made me love this band so much now, they are on the tops of my list of plays! Papa is the best front man in the business today, and in fact, if he stepped out of time, went back to the 70's or 80's, he'd dominate then too! If you have Ghost, you have everything!
Your story and background are basically identical to mine! I'm all about Prog Rock/Metal and Jazz and found Ghost with Square Hammer as well! The songwriting, production and live shows make Ghost a total package! They have dominated my top playlists for a long time now.
Came here for Ghost. Enjoyed watching you at the 12:00 mark when you subconsciously decided you were going to a Ghost concert. Their music does tickle you internally.
I saw them live September 13th, 2019. This song was released the day before. Was the first date of that particular tour outing. Myself and most others were already singing along. I was amazed by that. I didn't know every word but most of it had stuck already. I love this band. I do play music but I can see what you mean about non musicians getting hooked by it because of the qualities you mentioned. Thanks for checking them out.
I was at the Austin leg of this tour and the show was absolutely transcendant! i liked ghost as a band before but after the live concert they were absolutely number one on my list!
"How big is this band?" I'm not going to lie, I laughed out loud. I'm probably a bit older than you, so I get it. Ghost is this generation's Rush. The fly a bit under the mainstream radar, but they consistently sell out arenas. Their following, like Rush, is incredibly devoted.
I think you nailed it when you said it was rock music for non-musicians, I.e. people who aren’t interested in music theory or songwriting - and thus don’t particularly care about what goes into the making of a song. But by the same token, as a casual musician, I just can’t get all that excited about this band, as I quickly recognize the music as a deliberate combination of established formulas. A lot of their songs are what I call ‘stadium-friendly’, in that they were clearly written with live performances and larger arenas in mind. There’s obviously nothing wrong with this, nor is there anything wrong with using pop-hooks, but when the frontman for the band talks openly about using the same hooks and chord combinations over and over again, it’s hard to remain impressed for long.
I was taken to the Ghost concert in Bangor by a man who had just introduced Ghost to me a few weeks before. The concert was spectacular! I really enjoyed watching your first impression of Ghost, because it was beautiful to watch, and very similar to mine.
I went to a Festival here in Brazil Back in 2017 and happened they were playing the day I attended. I never heard of ghost prior , but man I had so much fun. They are great live and had such amazing tunes. I became a Fan since then.
Funfact: When Tobias Forge chooses his own Nameless Ghouls, they must undergo intense training to actually fill the gap. Like his Nameless Ghouls must have their own characters and not just a background like what bands do. That's why a lot of them are quirky in their own ways. All their personified ghouls then have to be trained to also know all the Ghost songs because the fans always requests a lot of them just to show how much they cared for their fans.
I was at that concert! I had just seen them a couple days before in Austin, TX then went to Tampa for their show. I could just say, if you had been to both concerts, you could tell something was up. Their sound quality was crazy in Tampa for being a live concert. It wasn't bad at all in Austin, just not even comparable. Hands down, the best live performance sound I've heard to date!
I'm a musician (primarily a lyricist). I first heard Ghost Feb 2024(!) and it was like when I listened to Moody Blues the first time, "Someone else hears the music in my head!"
Awesome vid, man! I don't get to see so many pro musicians break down the composition of Ghost, and I really hope I get to see you do more of their work. My ear isn't trained to any degree, but I always felt that while they aren't the most technical/skilled band out there, there's something truly magical about how their music all comes together. One of the most intriguing things about Ghost to me is they really do a great job of blending metal with pop, two diametrically opposed genres, lol This song in particular is all pop, but yes, they do have lots of metal to go around as well. And its great whenever a new album comes out because you really don't know what to expect with each new song. Spillways is another new song of theirs that I've seen a couple musicians geek out over. That one is also a bit poppy, but has some neat tricks throughout. If you wanted more of a dose of their much heavier side: Twenties Cirice Year Zero And then if you wanted something just completely different from any of this: He Is Oh, last note: Yes, you are spot on with choosing the word 'theater' over 'gimmick.' If you explore more of their work, you'll inevitably see that they do some with their own commentary on organized religion in society. Which I think helps cement their image and stage presence as more than just a mere gimmick. This particular song doesn't get too deep into that though and is just meant to be a crowd pleaser, ha
I'm new to the channel and I really really like the content, this things like talking about what hooks people into songs is something that I particularly love. Congrats man, seriously
Michael! Phenomenal reflections about Ghost’s music and concept. As a ”true metalhead” I get really upset about all the comments about Ghost and how their music is being called not metal and such. Who cares anyways when they have the ability to make an emotional impact on so many people - both musicians and non musicians. As a swede I am extra proud about Ghost’s success and I managed to see them live this may. Absolutely stunning preformance! If you have the chance to see them live, don’t hesitate!
As someone who usually plays acoustics and having a love of old hard rock, Ghost has so much to give to you. You can't help but nod your head and feel enchanted by the key and tune this song is in. I was so excited when he got to the solo guitar part.
Mike, I don't watch your videos to learn guitar from you. Because I already know what I need. But I watch to see your reaction to the videos, then attempt to break them down. Your genuine heartfelt words and reactions are what makes people love you. Happy holidays Mike.
Ghost was the first band I've been completely invested in. With other bands, i was more interested in the songs they wrote than the people who made it. Never really watching any music videos/live recordings. Ghost hit different. I love their costumes and how they mess around on stage. I love them so much.
My kid talked me into seeing Ghost live. Im a big, BIG, fan now! Not being familiar with all but two songs i already felt like i knew them. So good live!
I'd love if you checked out more songs from them, like square hammer, and the new album impera, because its really fascinating how their music progressed through the time
Man...their newest album holds some of the best music I've heard in the past, many years. Really great stuff, and the guitar parts are incredible to say the least!!
This is myfirst time viewing your channel because I’ve been a Ghost fan since 2013; over the past 9 yrs. I’ve attended 20 of their live shows. They’re the most incredible band currently touring. I truly enjoyed watching your reactions to the music. I hope you will delve into their entire discography. Tobias Forge is a genius and your reactions elicited exactly what I believe Tobias is aiming for. We need bands like this to encourage young people to keep rock alive and to be creative and innovative! You can gain so much insight by seeking out actual interviews with the man. Thanks for your review-really enjoyed it! Best regards.
I’m so glad you discovered this band. I’ve been into Ghost from the beginning and all I can suggest is dig in. The entire catalog is worth visiting and I would love to hear you breakdown more in the future.
My favorite modern metal band! I've been following them since their second studio album, and with every release they've just gotten better and catchier and I don't stop getting goose bumps. Their latest album is a masterpiece imo. You call the concert a theater, but they also have a youtube channel with lore videos 😂
I hope now you see how great the band Ghost is. They won a Grammy a few years ago. The lead singer Tobias Forge writes all the music and lyrics. He use to sing death metal. This band is his vision and brainchild.
If you really want to dig deep into the Ghost catalogue, I think you'd love the song Cirice. It's definitely not in the same Pop/Rock-genre, and it has some really great and more metallica-esque riffs.
I've been on their concert in hamburg just yesterday and the stadium they played in was pretty much 3-4 times as large as the one in the video and it was completely filled with fans, dressed up, facepaint and all. And you can clearly see why, their shows are absolutely amazing.
Perfect analysis of Ghost - spot on. The icing on the cake with them is real vocal harmony. They are pretty much the only act out there now that has figured out people like it, and they are doing it well.
I had heard of Ghost years ago around 2008, never listened to them and my brother asked if I wanted to go see them. On the way I said play one of their songs. I questioned whether I would like them or not. Needless to say, but I’ve become a huge fan. I was following the set list online and getting their songs on my iTunes while listening. Seeing them this August 2023 in Massachusetts again, can’t wait!
I really enjoyed this! I personally find them a lot of fun, especially figuring out the catchy solos because there's a lot of them. The live show feel to me like a closest guess how it may have felt to my parents to see Alice Cooper or Kiss. There's also a tongue in cheek story arc of them being on a mission to corrupt the masses with their music, like the former were accused of back in the day. They actually seem more popular in US than Europe. Maybe it's the earworm song writing combined with the pressure of a less secular enviroment that makes opposing theatrical elements appealing to a wider crowd.
Sweden is a country of ten million people that recently passed UK in music export, we are number two only behind USA. We produce a ton of music over here in the cold north...
Love the reaction. You are almost unable to fit Ghost into a genre.. People call it doom metal, heavy metal, poppy metal, rock, pop, prog metal, and everything in between.. Tobias, the creative songwriting genius, write songs rooted in a lot of music from the 80's.. You should definitely check out more of their stuff, as you will find a lot of excellent songwriting and guitar stuff to analyze.. You already note one thing.. Tobias writes good solos.. it's not like he tries to show off, or cram as many licks or notes into a solo, but rather plays a solo that can be "simple" but complements the song in a perfect way. My recommendations for you to check out: "Cirice" and "From the pinnacle to the pit" (from Meliora album), "Faith" and "Rats" (From Prequelle album), "Kaisarion", "Call me little sunshine" and "Hunter's moon" (from Impera album)... And as a bonus to hear something totally, totally different... listen to "Twenties" (from Impera album) Enjoy! :-)
You nailed it when it comes to Ghost. Pure art and Tobias Forge cares about every single aspect of that band. He has dialed up the "sauce" as you called it. Great review!
As a 22 year old youngin, I will tell y’all that I haven’t felt such pure happiness and joy pour out of me from a song since my (now) 73 year old dad showed me Peter schilling’s ‘Major Tom’. This song bring back that nostalgia and comfort of a song that was meant for every occasion. Both of these songs are just one of those songs you can show the homies and everyone immediately starts vibing.
Its worth adding (because I dont see it clearly explained in the comments) that Tobias (The Creator, Lead Singer/ Front Man and main songwriter) performs whilst in a full head silicone mask which has then been painted. The face you see is not his, it is a mask covering his face. His vocal range and talent to be able to sing so clearly whilst wearing a full head mask is insane.
His voice is amazing and i think people overlook his range
I really hope you are being sarcastic 🤣
?
@@robinlove6981 no it's true. Look up Tobias forge. Without the mask he looks so different. Plus he wears those grey contacts on his eyes while on stage. I miss when it was the norm to not just become famous but also have a larger than life stage personality that people will remember, and this band does that and then some. Who are the ghouls? Like seriously people don't even know who is behind some of those masks but they still respect the hell out of their music. I like that.
Tobias plays guitar I think someone else is singing. Look at the ears. In interviews were tobias is unmasked, you can tell its not the same ears
I'm a 56 y/o retired old rocker and although I can't tell you why, I love this band. It most certainly is a "whole package" type band with great theatrics that makes their music catchy as hell. I love to see people's reactions to this band. To me, the devil stuff is clearly theatrics and can even be quite comical when you throw in peoples reactions to it. All good entertainment!
I take tbe Devil stuff as satire.. They are amazing
Did he say" Marijuana.......grass" at the end?
@@thatthingthatisaid65 You're correct... that's the tongue in cheek of the whole song... "tickle you internally".. "But through all the sorrow, we've been riding high"... "Not just another bloody Mary".. If you're familiar with the Ghost lore.. this song is supposedly from an EP "rerelease" from the late 60''s with Papa Nihil.. the first ever singer of the band :-)
@teresa tall Marijuana...cross, just a play on the title, but the song is actually about oral sex or sex in general and pot, lol
@@thatthingthatisaid65 Mary on a cross is a song about Marijuana and kinda a protest of Marijuana laws
This song has about 200,000,000 plays on Spotify. 90% of that came in the last few months. It BLEW UP. As has the band.
And I'm glad it did. I looked the band up literally just 2 weeks ago and now I'm a fan with tickets for next year. Love them so much.
i think a lot of it came from tiktok, a version of the song became super popular on the app
I am certainly not a gatekeeper, but remembering how i went to my first ghost concert years ago in a small venue in 2017 and how they are now only playing in arenas and hours away from me .... makes me tear up a bit. especially since i couldnt attend in 2022 due to an emergency and 2019 i had to leave early because my friend got really sick. :S
Yeah blew up through tik tok really 😂
@@pobrelatrine its funny how this song got popular on tiktok, meanwhile I got it recommended while listening to my own spotify playlist . its funny cause I knew ghost for 6-7 year already and mostly from songs like cirice or square hammer and I never watched any of their tiktoks stil spotify brought it to me to not miss out on the hype haha.
Swedish people for some reason have a natural ability to come up with ridiculously good melodies. It's very unique. You hear it with everything from AVICII, to In Flames, to Abba to Ghost. And the melodies have a distinct Swedish vibe to it, it's unmistakable. Hell, even Max Martin is Swedish. They have a cheat code for hook writing, I've never seen anything like it in music.
Soilwork 😁
Not too mention Swedes along with the Dutch and Finnish have amazing music and Vocaliats.
Tommy Johansson is one of the best male vocalists currently but is better known as the lead guitarist of Sabaton another Swedish Band.
Roxette, The Cardigans, Ace of Base when it comes to pop among countless legendary rock bands, from Europe to Bathory, Entombed and Grave and from Candlemass and Opeth to Tiamat and At The Gates
Don’t forget about Opeth
None of you mentioned Yngwie Malmsteen. Tsk tsk. The guy practically invented neoclassical guitar, and from an influence standpoint is about on the same level as Eddie Van Halen.
Mary on a Cross is a banger, but IMO one of their most vanilla songs. They are easily one of my fav current bands. TONS of amazing songs!
Definitely a bit of a gateway song, it's easy to love and has more of a poppy song to it. I can't help but love it and Square Hammer
@@devinkerr5474 kiss the goat, darkness at the heart of my love and year zero are my favs atm
@@m.p.749 Kiss the goat is a big hit too, and it's got enough bounce that our 19 month old loves it too. I've been enjoying Call me Little Sunshine too
@@devinkerr5474 same! my toddler also loves call me little sunshine. lol the irony that a toddler loves rock music over nursery rhymes always gets me laughing. Ghost is such a wonderful band for any age
@@m.p.749 I find the trappings of genre jsut don't apply for our baby. I can play Ghost, Powerwolf, Saltatio Mortis, Sabaton, Dorthy, Iron Maiden, Amon Amarth, and she bounces to it all
6:20 You described Ghost to a T. Tobias Forge, their lead singer/chief songwriter, is a guy who both loves heavy music AND understands catchy pop hooks. Ghost's music is a perfect cocktail of dark imagery and accessible melodies. They're absolutely amazing!
First time I ever saw Ghost was almost 9 years ago in a converted skating rink in Oklahoma City on like a Tuesday night. If there were over 200 people there, I'll eat my hat. It's basically one dude who writes everything. He would switch outfits from the lead 'Priest' outfit to the anonymous band outfit and walk through the crowd. He would talk to everyone. Everyone thought it was just another fan. I asked him about how much he spent to make the outfit (which is a perfect replica of the one the singer wore on stage) and he said he paid just over $100,000 US for all 8 of them. I giggled, took a pic of him and walked off. Few years later, Nergal of Behemoth is giving an interview and he is talking about the outfits his band wears and he said they cost about $50 depending on which thrift shop the find and said, "It's not like that Ghost dude dropping $100k on 8 outfits". Nergal being the guy who posted a picture of himself and Tobias in street clothes with a caption that said: "If you've got Ghosts". Then I realized that guy in my picture wasn't a fan at all. It was Tobias without the fake accent he uses on stage just being a regular dude walking in the audience 20 minutes before the opening band hit the stage. I've seen them live 5 times now (3 as headliners, 2 as opening band) and they kill it every time. 20 years after the great Satanic Panic wiped through America, this dude wins a Grammy, an AMA and sells out arenas singing about Satan. They recorded their 2nd album in Nashville. All except for the intro of one song which requires a chorus singing 6 variations on Satan's name (Year Zero) and they had to go to LA to find a chorus that would record the lines. The dude can write a catchy song in about 7 different rock styles from death metal to praise-and-worship. Loves Metallica, Kiss and Pink Floyd and can easily sound like any of them.
👆👆👆,
I have something for you......
He only uses hired guns,maybe you’ll be a nameless ghoul someday.
I saw Ghost in Webster Hall in NYC in 2013 in the small room. There were about 200 people there too. It was incredible. I've been an enourmous fan ever since, though I wish they stuck with the heavier stuff at times. This song is an undeniable banger though as is most of their music
@cschneer Back when I first heard of them, all of their stuff was online and free (still in the GhostBC days). They only had the 2 LP and one EP. They did have quite a few amature concert videos. There was one in either Argentina or Brazil. Lollapalooza and, maybe, Coachella. The outdoor festival shows were very different since they had all the stage space they needed, great sound equipment and most were in broad daylight. Their indoor shows were usually very small and made good use of lighting. They've always used that same multi-level stage approach but in that converted skating rink in OKC they could only use 2 and a half levels and the keys Ghoul had to hunch over or slam his head on the ceiling. During that stretch, the best show I saw in terms of quality of audio and video plus a location that could facilitate the whole show was in New York and thinking back almost 10years ago, I think that was Webster Hall. Was that the show you were at? 2013 is in that time period
Yep that was the one, but there weren't multi tiered stages. It was basic as hell.
Tobias Forge is a master songwriter, their entire Impera album is ingrained in my head
Actually tobias forge didn’t write on this album.
@@johannsebastianelli9222 You mean on the Seven Inches of Satanic Panic album?
@@johannsebastianelli9222 Forge has writing credits on every song in Impera 🤷
@@johannsebastianelli9222 haha What??
I really need Michael to listen to Respite on the Spitalfields. I know he said Ghost is hooky and maybe more “poppy” but I genuinely thing he would lose his mind at some of the amazing riffs and solos in that song.
Have to agree with this one!!
Respite on the spitalfields is such a great song for his kind of analysis, I'd love to see it
This is my new favorite Ghost song. Its amazing!
respite on the spitalfields is the best song ever
Yep agreed, and the tone on that Strat in the first solo is money
I saw them in Trenton, NJ. The guitars were so loud. Super LOUD and I loved every second of it. I took my 17 yo son and left the show having just seen one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Just go listen to the last album ( Impera) and be amazed. It's a tribute to 80's Rock and a lesson in songwriting.
Every single song on it is a BANGER
@@DoogieH92 so true
It’s one of only maybe 5 cds that I love every song and listen to it from beginning to end.
Or Meliora, thats my favorite album lol-
@@ravenouscrow6308i love Infestissumam
Been lucky to see Ghost 3 times live. Absolutely phenomenal each time.
Also seen them 3 times and my 1st time was fav. It was the tour where it was just Ghost in small theater. Absolutely amazing time.
Saw them 4 times, but every time they became better. In this moment they do something like perfection with good music, show and "theatre"
Ghost is flat out amazing. They won a grammy in 2015, and now and AMA in 2022. They troll the church, its very tongue in cheek, but they are top level song writers, and artists. I'm a guitarist, and play in cover bands, but love how Ghost has brought some of the best tricks and tips from the 70's and 80's into popular music today.
I had heard this song on shitty TikToks and never knew who it was. Then I saw a RUclips short of the vocalist throwing the first pitch at a baseball game and looked them up. First song I heard was "Little Sunshine" and I've been hooked ever since.
omg i had the exact same experience! the instagram algorithm showed me that baseball vid and i was like who is this?! been obsessed with them since
@@meganbreen1380 hell fucking yeah
You're absolutely right they are from Sweden and all about theatrics. The band is the brainchild of lead singer Tobias Forge. I think he said in an early interview something along the lines of: "What if there was this classic rock band that used to be huge, but that I for some reason completely missed out on? What would they look like? How they sound?". The masks, the stage design and the costumes have been there since day one. Even their identities were kept completely secret for the first couple of years until it became public information after a lawsuit.
For anyone interested, there's a good interview with Tobias on loudwires channel here on RUclips, where it's just him with an acoustic guitar (PRS!) talking about songwriting and influences.
Didn’t even mention the stage name? That’s one of the most important aspects. The THEATER.
I'm a big hard rock fan, especially the 80's. I discovered Ghost 3 weeks ago. I've listened to all their songs 10x each and I can't stop. I['ve watched every video and concert I can find on YT. I've never been as obsessed with a band before.
Me too! Since March and caught a show. I’m infatuated
same for me but not obsessed.....POSSESSED !!! Just can't get out of this hell !!!!!!!!
Obsessed as well with this f$%#$..g song!
And I see nothing wrong with that!
Hahahahaha
That happened to me 1 year ago, at the moment I’m still hering his songs thousands of times and watching every video on RUclips about them xd, Ghost is such a vibe, best band for me 🤘🏻
Try to discover Nightwish also. Then you know what real obsession is.
I'm a 54 year old lifelong drummer, percussionist and singer who is finally working to realize my dream of playing guitar. I can't explain all the why's, but this is one of those performances moved me. Michael, my eyes were tearing up while I was trying to pick out the guitar part. There IS much to be said for scoring and orchestrating for the purpose of creating an emotion... THEN adding the drama to emphasize that some emotion. wELL-FREAKING-DONE Ghost. Thank you Michael for bring this to my attention, and for helping me begin to understand this instrument that I've thought was beyond me for so long.
👆👆👆,
I have something for you!!!.....
I underestimated Ghost until I finally listened to them a couple months ago....they're actually nuts
Seen em 4 times live. They’ve brought big scope rock and roll shows back. That alone makes me love them.
For real. I heard the song square hammer on the radio and thought what is this wussy butt rock? Then I listened to the lyrics and “got it.”
@@Lurch685 I’ve never liked or even understood the term “butt rock.” What even qualifies as that? Usually it’s just high energy, somewhat cheesy, feel-good rock. What’s wrong with that?
@@2yoyoyo1Unplugged mostly Nickelback.
Took me about 10 years to finally get it.
The organ immediately stood out to me, which is a cool little connection given what the song is about. First time hearing this band, but I like the theatrics, and I bet the concerts and the people who go to them are super fun.
Be sure to stay in D standard when playing Ghost! And I hope you check out songs like the Grammy winning Cirice or Absolution!
This song specifically was composed to emulate the sound of the 60's
Who's from 60's sounded even remotely like that?
Its just like guns and roses, they have to play in D because the vocals are so high
@@moonshine7374 check out the studio version of the song, it will make sense then
@@Nasty_Riffs GnR was in Eb
@@moonshine7374 this is from an EP they did that fits into the band’s lore about where the Clergy were during the 60’s.
GHOST is great! It's like ABBA meets KISS. So much fun.
this guys expression to listening to them for presumably the first time is golden
💯
This song is so good, but there are other songs that are more technically challenging and complex. Songs like dance macabre, square hammer, and spillways are some of my favorites!
This is my Absolute Favorite Band and I'm a 49 yr old 80's Metal Kid
You should absolutely check out their entire library, this would be considered one of the more popular songs, but they have some incredible metal/glam metal songs and riffs. Absolutely one of my favorite bands.
Mary On A Cross is the gateway drug to all things Ghost. I trust that you, as a guitar teacher, have taken the next steps and gotten fully immersed in their art. As much as I love this song, it only scratches the surface of what Ghost is. That quality of leading the listeners, musicians or not, through the experience, and to the ecstacy of a conclusion is what makes Tobias Forge. You ain’t heard nuthin yet. And don’t underestimate the musical savvy of Ghost fans. Once we find them, really, no ther music is as satisfying.
💯💯💯💯
Their new album is pure 80s metal goodness.
I think he definitely has to do more videos on ghost. Their songs have different styles and all of them work so well. Tobias is such a musical genius
My favorite part about this song is that within the bands lore, it’s a 60s anthem that propelled Papa Nihil to stardom. Also the song originally was released on a Friday the 13th so even better for the band.
I've never heard of them until now. They're damn good. I can see why they're getting big, they deserve it.
👆👆👆,
I have something for you......
I know that the guitarists that are currently in this band are EXTREMELY talented! They used to be anonymous officially, but just revealed their identities and the lead guitarist is named Per Eriksson. I'm unfortunately not very familiar with the swedish metal scene myself, but apparently he is a incredibly respected artist there.
Chris Catalyst the rhythm guitarist is incredible also. Loved his band Eureka Machines for years.
@@catsmeow1037 I love Chris's work too! Honestly all the Ghouls are insanely talented.
Lead singer is Tobias Forge?!
@@marybrant9586 yup
You hit the nail on the head...it is theatre and that is what Tobias Forge aimed to accomplish. Ghost is an amazing band and I am glad to hear your appreciation. I hope you listen to their back catalogue to see how they have progressed and to learn more about Tobiass vision
I absolutely love this version of the song.
They keyed it down quite a bit from the original (B Major) and they added the backup vocals during the chorus from the Ghoulette. It embodies the spirit of the song so much better.
I also love that the new key for Mary on a Cross is the same key as Danse Macabre, another one of their songs from Prequelle album.
Yes - Ghost is a swedish band!!! 😉🇸🇪🙌 Saw Ghost first time 2014 here in Sweden @ Sweden Rock Festival - on a smaller stage! For 2023:s festival they are headlining one of the nights and they have become really big over the years! Tobias is obviously doing something right! 😜🎼👍🎸🙌🇸🇪🇸🇪
👆👆👆,.
I have something for you....
You really do need to look into the whole concept of the band! I, like so many others, am an older fan and I just can't get enough of them. I've been to two "rituals" this year, and I can't wait until they come back to the states, it is just such a great show to see. Check out some more of their songs, their story, and also the video shorts "Chapters" that they have uploaded to their channel. They are indeed a whole package!
Your video popped up so I watched it. New subscriber here. I am a bass player :) You totally remind me of my reaction to this band as well. First time I seen them live was back in 2017 opening for Iron Maiden in Toronto Ontario. I really didn't think much of them. My 17 year old son just recently got into their music. I started listening to them more this year. We went and seen their own tour back in Sept 2022. I all have to say is Wow. This band is amazing. I started looking more into Tobias Forge, he is a genius. He writes all the music and is an amazing front man. I'm sure by now you have listened to a lot more of Ghost's music. Very hooky, love all the mix of 60's to now sounds. Amazing band.
old dude here also who thanks god Ghost saved rock in 2022. They are the best thing going on in rock rn.
He hit it on the head. Ghost’s popularity really centers around Tobias writing one hook after another. Just when you lock into the verse and think it’s just great, then the chorus comes and that’s even better than the verse. His songs are just singable melody after singable melody. Not east to do but this band locks you in and doesn’t let you go.
Alice Cooper, David Bowie long before even Kiss were theatrical, these guys are awesome..being at a Ghost concert was so much fun and exciting,,,kind of like seeing Meatloaf for the first time.
This band are certainly huge! They won a gramy for their song 'cirice' and mutiple other awards. They most definitely are making thier place in the music industry 🤟
I'm what one might call a music snob, and am all about Jazz Fusion, ProgRock, and Classical. But, I discovered Ghost back in 2016, with the song Square Hammer, and from there I've become a HUGE Ghost fanatic! My favorite album is still Infestissumam, but, both Prequelle and Inpera have completely made me love this band so much now, they are on the tops of my list of plays! Papa is the best front man in the business today, and in fact, if he stepped out of time, went back to the 70's or 80's, he'd dominate then too! If you have Ghost, you have everything!
Your story and background are basically identical to mine! I'm all about Prog Rock/Metal and Jazz and found Ghost with Square Hammer as well! The songwriting, production and live shows make Ghost a total package! They have dominated my top playlists for a long time now.
@@GGibby That is awesome!!! Square Hammer can get a lot of people hooked! Ghost is my favorite band right now!
Came here for Ghost. Enjoyed watching you at the 12:00 mark when you subconsciously decided you were going to a Ghost concert. Their music does tickle you internally.
I saw them live September 13th, 2019. This song was released the day before. Was the first date of that particular tour outing. Myself and most others were already singing along. I was amazed by that. I didn't know every word but most of it had stuck already. I love this band. I do play music but I can see what you mean about non musicians getting hooked by it because of the qualities you mentioned. Thanks for checking them out.
I was at the Austin leg of this tour and the show was absolutely transcendant! i liked ghost as a band before but after the live concert they were absolutely number one on my list!
"How big is this band?" I'm not going to lie, I laughed out loud. I'm probably a bit older than you, so I get it. Ghost is this generation's Rush. The fly a bit under the mainstream radar, but they consistently sell out arenas. Their following, like Rush, is incredibly devoted.
I think you nailed it when you said it was rock music for non-musicians, I.e. people who aren’t interested in music theory or songwriting - and thus don’t particularly care about what goes into the making of a song.
But by the same token, as a casual musician, I just can’t get all that excited about this band, as I quickly recognize the music as a deliberate combination of established formulas. A lot of their songs are what I call ‘stadium-friendly’, in that they were clearly written with live performances and larger arenas in mind.
There’s obviously nothing wrong with this, nor is there anything wrong with using pop-hooks, but when the frontman for the band talks openly about using the same hooks and chord combinations over and over again, it’s hard to remain impressed for long.
I was taken to the Ghost concert in Bangor by a man who had just introduced Ghost to me a few weeks before. The concert was spectacular! I really enjoyed watching your first impression of Ghost, because it was beautiful to watch, and very similar to mine.
I went to a Festival here in Brazil Back in 2017 and happened they were playing the day I attended. I never heard of ghost prior , but man I had so much fun. They are great live and had such amazing tunes. I became a Fan since then.
Funfact: When Tobias Forge chooses his own Nameless Ghouls, they must undergo intense training to actually fill the gap. Like his Nameless Ghouls must have their own characters and not just a background like what bands do. That's why a lot of them are quirky in their own ways. All their personified ghouls then have to be trained to also know all the Ghost songs because the fans always requests a lot of them just to show how much they cared for their fans.
I was at that concert! I had just seen them a couple days before in Austin, TX then went to Tampa for their show. I could just say, if you had been to both concerts, you could tell something was up. Their sound quality was crazy in Tampa for being a live concert. It wasn't bad at all in Austin, just not even comparable. Hands down, the best live performance sound I've heard to date!
It's an 80's type of rock so old rockers will relate to this sound as well.😊
I'm a musician (primarily a lyricist). I first heard Ghost Feb 2024(!) and it was like when I listened to Moody Blues the first time, "Someone else hears the music in my head!"
Im surprised you have never heard of them. Probably the fastest growing rock band the last 5-10 years. They are great!
I hadn’t heard of them before this,either. But,I love their musicianship!
When you consider that Tobias came from the punk scene, a band called Repugnant…his transition to birthing Ghost is even more amazing to me.
I think Repugnant is more of a death metal band, but his other band Subvision has a few punk elements with pop rock!
And Onkel Kånkel and MCC. He is very talented.
Awesome vid, man!
I don't get to see so many pro musicians break down the composition of Ghost, and I really hope I get to see you do more of their work. My ear isn't trained to any degree, but I always felt that while they aren't the most technical/skilled band out there, there's something truly magical about how their music all comes together.
One of the most intriguing things about Ghost to me is they really do a great job of blending metal with pop, two diametrically opposed genres, lol
This song in particular is all pop, but yes, they do have lots of metal to go around as well. And its great whenever a new album comes out because you really don't know what to expect with each new song.
Spillways is another new song of theirs that I've seen a couple musicians geek out over. That one is also a bit poppy, but has some neat tricks throughout.
If you wanted more of a dose of their much heavier side:
Twenties
Cirice
Year Zero
And then if you wanted something just completely different from any of this:
He Is
Oh, last note: Yes, you are spot on with choosing the word 'theater' over 'gimmick.' If you explore more of their work, you'll inevitably see that they do some with their own commentary on organized religion in society. Which I think helps cement their image and stage presence as more than just a mere gimmick. This particular song doesn't get too deep into that though and is just meant to be a crowd pleaser, ha
I’d definitely check out Cirice if you wanted to see more of their catalog! They also won a Grammy with that song
Agreed. Some of the most interesting tonality I've heard in "pop" music in a very long time.
So many good suggestions here. I would add that the song Tobias Forge recommends as a good intro to their band is Cirice. Great tune and riffs!
I'm new to the channel and I really really like the content, this things like talking about what hooks people into songs is something that I particularly love. Congrats man, seriously
Michael!
Phenomenal reflections about Ghost’s music and concept. As a ”true metalhead” I get really upset about all the comments about Ghost and how their music is being called not metal and such. Who cares anyways when they have the ability to make an emotional impact on so many people - both musicians and non musicians.
As a swede I am extra proud about Ghost’s success and I managed to see them live this may. Absolutely stunning preformance!
If you have the chance to see them live, don’t hesitate!
As someone who usually plays acoustics and having a love of old hard rock, Ghost has so much to give to you. You can't help but nod your head and feel enchanted by the key and tune this song is in. I was so excited when he got to the solo guitar part.
Little Sunshine is so incredibly catchy and brilliantly nuanced!! Woke me up to GHOST!!
Mike,
I don't watch your videos to learn guitar from you. Because I already know what I need.
But I watch to see your reaction to the videos, then attempt to break them down. Your genuine heartfelt words and reactions are what makes people love you.
Happy holidays Mike.
“Year Zero” next! Ice cold. I’d like to see your reaction to that.
Going to see them on Tuesday I’d Sydney. Cannot wait
Ghost was the first band I've been completely invested in. With other bands, i was more interested in the songs they wrote than the people who made it. Never really watching any music videos/live recordings. Ghost hit different. I love their costumes and how they mess around on stage. I love them so much.
you just like me fr
My kid talked me into seeing Ghost live. Im a big, BIG, fan now! Not being familiar with all but two songs i already felt like i knew them. So good live!
Best description of I've heard to date is that Ghost is the result of mixing equal parts Black Sabbath and Abba.
Dude I'm a long time Ghost fan and seeing you react to them made my day!
You should definitely go down the Ghost rabbit hole - they have so many different styles that would be great for you to feature!
You are amazing Michael!! Thank you! More Ghost please! 🙂You will like "Cirice"....for instance... And I still envy you PRS! 😯
I'd love if you checked out more songs from them, like square hammer, and the new album impera, because its really fascinating how their music progressed through the time
love to see it when people nerd out in things they really love
Two words" MORE GHOST!!!!!
Guitar solos following the main melody certainly show the band’s love for 70’s rock. So many perfect influences… Love these guys.
You can't analyze Ghost because they do this. They make you speechless. Love it.
I’ve loved this band since I first heard them over a decade ago. Just saw them live for the first time a few years ago and they were AMAZING.
Tobias is a rock/pop genius of a songwriter. Best in a couple of decades
Incredible breakdown. Glad I found the channel!
Man...their newest album holds some of the best music I've heard in the past, many years. Really great stuff, and the guitar parts are incredible to say the least!!
1000000%
i really like how you could hear the ghouls and ghoulettes voices
I feel like you could do another 10 videos on Ghost and how different their songs are.
👆👆👆,
I have something for you!!!.....
Agree 100%
This is myfirst time viewing your channel because I’ve been a Ghost fan since 2013; over the past 9 yrs. I’ve attended 20 of their live shows. They’re the most incredible band currently touring. I truly enjoyed watching your reactions to the music. I hope you will delve into their entire discography. Tobias Forge is a genius and your reactions elicited exactly what I believe Tobias is aiming for. We need bands like this to encourage young people to keep rock alive and to be creative and innovative! You can gain so much insight by seeking out actual interviews with the man. Thanks for your review-really enjoyed it! Best regards.
You would not be wasting your time to find a whole concert on RUclips from this tour and watch the whole thing
I’m so glad you discovered this band. I’ve been into Ghost from the beginning and all I can suggest is dig in. The entire catalog is worth visiting and I would love to hear you breakdown more in the future.
My favorite modern metal band! I've been following them since their second studio album, and with every release they've just gotten better and catchier and I don't stop getting goose bumps. Their latest album is a masterpiece imo. You call the concert a theater, but they also have a youtube channel with lore videos 😂
Metal? Yeah, no.
Metal? Yeah, no.
I hope now you see how great the band Ghost is. They won a Grammy a few years ago. The lead singer Tobias Forge writes all the music and lyrics. He use to sing death metal. This band is his vision and brainchild.
If you really want to dig deep into the Ghost catalogue, I think you'd love the song Cirice. It's definitely not in the same Pop/Rock-genre, and it has some really great and more metallica-esque riffs.
I've been on their concert in hamburg just yesterday and the stadium they played in was pretty much 3-4 times as large as the one in the video and it was completely filled with fans, dressed up, facepaint and all. And you can clearly see why, their shows are absolutely amazing.
I love this song you can literally relate to this song in every mood you have.
Perfect analysis of Ghost - spot on.
The icing on the cake with them is real vocal harmony. They are pretty much the only act out there now that has figured out people like it, and they are doing it well.
They've been opening up for Metallica off and on the past few years. Great band. Their hits are super catchy and I've never heard this song
I had heard of Ghost years ago around 2008, never listened to them and my brother asked if I wanted to go see them. On the way I said play one of their songs. I questioned whether I would like them or not. Needless to say, but I’ve become a huge fan. I was following the set list online and getting their songs on my iTunes while listening. Seeing them this August 2023 in Massachusetts again, can’t wait!
I really enjoyed this! I personally find them a lot of fun, especially figuring out the catchy solos because there's a lot of them.
The live show feel to me like a closest guess how it may have felt to my parents to see Alice Cooper or Kiss. There's also a tongue in cheek story arc of them being on a mission to corrupt the masses with their music, like the former were accused of back in the day.
They actually seem more popular in US than Europe. Maybe it's the earworm song writing combined with the pressure of a less secular enviroment that makes opposing theatrical elements appealing to a wider crowd.
Sweden is a country of ten million people that recently passed UK in music export, we are number two only behind USA. We produce a ton of music over here in the cold north...
Love the reaction. You are almost unable to fit Ghost into a genre.. People call it doom metal, heavy metal, poppy metal, rock, pop, prog metal, and everything in between.. Tobias, the creative songwriting genius, write songs rooted in a lot of music from the 80's..
You should definitely check out more of their stuff, as you will find a lot of excellent songwriting and guitar stuff to analyze..
You already note one thing.. Tobias writes good solos.. it's not like he tries to show off, or cram as many licks or notes into a solo, but rather plays a solo that can be "simple" but complements the song in a perfect way.
My recommendations for you to check out:
"Cirice" and "From the pinnacle to the pit" (from Meliora album), "Faith" and "Rats" (From Prequelle album), "Kaisarion", "Call me little sunshine" and "Hunter's moon" (from Impera album)... And as a bonus to hear something totally, totally different... listen to "Twenties" (from Impera album)
Enjoy! :-)
You nailed it when it comes to Ghost. Pure art and Tobias Forge cares about every single aspect of that band. He has dialed up the "sauce" as you called it. Great review!
They have a ton of good songs. I found them this year
As a 22 year old youngin, I will tell y’all that I haven’t felt such pure happiness and joy pour out of me from a song since my (now) 73 year old dad showed me Peter schilling’s ‘Major Tom’. This song bring back that nostalgia and comfort of a song that was meant for every occasion. Both of these songs are just one of those songs you can show the homies and everyone immediately starts vibing.
Ghost records almost everything in D Standard.
As someone who listens to Ghost "religiously" read the lyrics, they are hilarious and fit the bands' theatre and presentation so well!