I have to admit, Ghost have surprised me. With a visual style and stage presence that wouldn’t be out of place in the black metal scene, I was expecting them to have the abyssal orchestral arrangements of bands like Dimmu Borgir. Perhaps it was masked Nameless Ghouls that gave that impression? In any case, Ghost are much more accessible than I first realised.
Their music is rather hard to place, and seems to ride the line between metal and really dark rock; track six (‘Mummy Dust’) is easily placed as a metal track, yet track two (‘From The Pinnacle To The Pit’) could pass as funk-tinged rock ‘n’ roll. The band’s use of keys/synth is fantastic; they use it to great effect (e.g. the start of track one, ‘Spirits’, sounds straight out of old school scifi) and it’s definitely a highlight of the album.
As it stands, Ghost come across as more of a rock band masquerading as a doom/black metal band, but that’s not a bad thing; Meliora is an intricately crafted album that will appeal to both crowds. Ghost are fantastic musicians, and Meliora certainly reflects it; if you like your music dark, you’re gonna love these guys.
Out Via Spinefarm/Loma Vista/Caroline Australia
Reviewed by Alastair McGibbon