Ghost have just released a brand new single and music video from upcoming album number 6; ‘Skeletá’ and it sounds and looks incredible!
Since last months first single ‘Satanized’ and reveal of new frontman Papa V Pepertua, we have been treated to a few photoshoot pictures of the mysterious ‘V’ himself. However it is in new single ‘Lachryma’ that we really get up close and personal with the man himself. What I mean here is, the man behind the mask, Tobias Forge, is for the first time not wearing a prosthetic mask to become a Ghost frontman.
A quick explanation for the uninitiated… Ghost is masterminded by Swedish musician, Tobias Forge. Each album cycle has a new frontman for the band (with the exception of albums 4 and 5 which is the ‘same person’), who is played by Forge, under a prosthetic mask, with skull makeup on top. That is until… ‘V.’ Why is this important? Well for one thing, it’s the first time in 19 years of the bands existence, that we see Forge’s mouth actually moving, and so Papa V is imbued with a character and emotion that was lacking in previous incarnations. I’m very pleased to say that the life that Forge has given him seems to be quite unhinged!
‘Lachryma’ begins with a video reminiscent of a horror film, with music that would be at home in an episode of stranger things, It oozes 70s horror and 80s sci-fi. The band look wonderful, with V himself at the helm, all with variations on skeletal attire, cowls, top hats and vampire bat wings. The look screams a love letter to the likes of other theatrical rockers, King Diamond, Kiss and Alice Cooper.
The track itself is as you would expect from Ghost, extremely catchy. I hadn’t even got through it once, when I was already humming the chorus. That has been one of Tobias Forges greatest strengths, the ability to write incredibly catchy music. There are riffs that reminded me of some of Metallica’s work, and verses that put me in mind of Ghosts earlier offering ‘Cirice.’ As always, with Forge’s music, there are layers and layers of meanings to the symbolism and lyrics, and fans will delight in picking over every detail to decode what the message from Forge may be.
But whatever the intended message, the bottom line is, Ghost have done it again. Another fantastic single to follow up ‘Satanized.’ ‘Lachryma’ is dark, spooky and very slightly mad… and I love it!
Ghost are embarking on a 2025 World tour (Skeletátour.’) Tickets available here.
Watch the music video to ‘Lachryma’ here.
Papa V will also be haunting the stage at the upcoming Black Sabbath ‘Back to the Beginning’ show in Birmingham… see you there!
Chris \m/
