2017 was a pretty turbulent year for Ghost. From sold out tours to reveal of the band's members due to authorship rights lawsuit, this band (or one man project, as frontman Tobias Forge likes to joke about) still has the potential to own the throne of the global hard rock attraction, the one that was previously owned by Muse. I dare to claim that Forge has a creative potential to accomplish much more, If material desires and life's mishaps do not hinder his intentions.
Since December 8th, Ghost have a new live album out without a physical release. Meaning, you can only buy it on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay and Spotify. The album which was produced by Tom Dalgety includes the band's full catalogue and it was recorded during their Popestar tour last summer, mostly in San Francisco. Collection of 15 songs starts with Square Hammer and ends with Monstrance Clock. In between, it is filled with fan favorites such as Cirice, He Is, Absolution, and many other compositions that marked their career. To provide their fans with the new dimension of the sound, the band had released new live video for Absolution. Although the album is already available digitally, the fans will have to wait until January 19th for the double CD physical format. Vinyl releases will be limited on "translucent tigers eyes" with bonus presents: a poster and a shirt.
Papa Emeritus III has receded backstage, and he was replaced by Papa Emeritus Zeto who said: Middle Ages are beginning; the band was working on a new album, and Tobias Forge announced that 2018 will be the year when their new studio album will see the light of the day. Ceremony and Devotion comes as a plausible closure of Melior and Popestar. It may also represent the end of the whole mysticism of the band when it comes to their enigmatic image. Live bands usually get released at the peak of artist's career, and what comes after is a change in direction - either a revolution of sound or the onset of downward spiral. When it comes to Ghost, they certainly need a refreshment, since their tricks have recently become sleazy, and this album shows that not even the engagement of some experienced musicians can be a substitute for the raw energy absent original members delivered.
I hope Ceremony and Devotion is not the last good thing we have heard from Ghost. Let's wait for the spring and see.
