Ghost - Meliora Review

Ghost - Meliora [Occult Rock]

Ghost have returned with their third album. Having followed them since their debut Opus Eponymous, I'm happy to say that this third album is a great mix of the more metal-tinged debut and their ABBA-influenced sophomore record, Infestissumam. In fact, I will go on a limp and say that this is the best album from Ghost yet.

Getting production out of the way first, the sound is overly compressed as usual, but the mix is actually pretty good. Bass is super thick and punchy, synth is subtle and layered without being too overly cheesy (as was in Infestissumam), the drums are actually pretty loud and thunderous without being too overly aggressive. The band is still incredibly accessible, this is metal / rock that even the radio-listening layman would find himself humming along too.

There is almost no bad song on the album. Some tracks do feel weak, especially when coming up after relatively stronger tracks like "He Is" and "Absolution", but this is subjective since my favourite tracks on this album seems to differ greatly from what the fans seem to love. The track "Mummy Dust" for example, is commonly cited as one of the best songs on the album, along with closer "Deus In Absentia". However I found the preceding tracks, "He Is" and "Absolution" to be the better tracks on this album. There isn't much to break down here, because Ghost's biggest draw is their simplicity. True, the costumes and theatrics are the gimmicks that draw people to their music in the first place. but their songs are truly no-bullshit anthems. Thumpy bass, gigantic choruses with great hooks on the aforementioned two tracks and many more; "From The Pinnacle To The Pit", "Cirice" and "Majesty" contain great sing-along choruses. The album has two short instrumentals, "Spoksonat" and "Devil Church". These two instrumentals aren't filler at all, and actually do create some depth and atmosphere for their succeeding tracks.

I want to draw further attention to the track "He Is". The acoustic guitars and piano aren't exactly new additions to the band's arsenal, but the song is quite possibly the best song on the album. It's a passionately written hymn to Dīs Pater, the Roman God of the underworld (more than likely an allusion to Lucifer). It's similar to the track "Monstrance Clock" off Infestissumam, it's tender and deeply melodic, and parodies Christian gospel songs. What makes Ghost different from the other metal bands is their earnestness in these odes, without trying to mock Christians. This sort of genuine adoration for Luciferianism has been missing from the scene, with most bands interpreting Luciferianism as a direct confrontation of Christianity. I was personally blown away by the track, there is nothing technical in the instruments or the writing. It's just a love letter to Lucifer, and that's why I have always found this band refreshing.





That's rare, a widely hyped band releasing a widely hyped album that actually lives up. Hail Satan.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Ghost B.C - Infestissumam Review

Ghost B.C - Infestissumam [Occult Rock / Pop]

The follow up to 2010's massive debut, Opus Eponymous, is a bit disappointing.




The group's debut was an eclectic mix of early black metal (think Mercyful Fate) and Sabbath-style doom / occult riffs. Still anonymous, lead singer Papa Emeritus II definitely sounds like a younger Kind Diamond and the infectious grooves of Opus haven't gone stale in three years since inception. This of course got the band to superstardom with a lot of press from Decibel and recently because their initial album art for this album was deemed too offensive by retailers, hence postponing album sales. Whatever the gimmick, nothing matters more than the actual music, which isn't fully delivered here.


If you ever were a fan of the band, you may still like this album. Or you may not. Having listened to this album for the last month or so, I am still divided on my opinion of the album. The sound is definitely more polished and crisp, perhaps so much so that the music sounds like a pop album. Not that that is a bad thing, but the result is an album that lacks the balls of the debut. Add to that the fact that the songs are more vague and complex as opposed to short and straightforward catchy. There are still a few hooks here: the brilliant 'Year Zero' and excellent closer 'Monstrance Clock' are clearly inspired by the band's catalogue.

On the other hand, you have long unwanted songs like 'Ghuleh - Zombie Queen', a song that starts off with an almost alternative rock crooning and piano before suddenly venturing into some 70s rock segment with elements of swing and organs (with a few seconds of doom rock in an insufficient scream). The idea is not dull but the execution comes out as clumsily handled, and the lack of hooks make the some seem longer than it actually is. 'Body And Blood' doesn't come off as memorable either, with its nonchalant verses and glacial pace. Lead single 'Secular Haze' isn't as instantly accessible as, say, 'Ritual', but it does show the band's shift to pop ambition. 'Per Aspera Ad Inferi' sounds too similar to 'Con Clavi Con Dio' off opus, without being as catchy or arresting, especially because it is the heaviest song on Infestissumam but doesn't juggle the contrasting styles well, abruptly shifting from heavy doom rock riffing to a synthesizer-driven chorus.

Much like Baroness' Yellow & Green, the band has definitely focused on their strength; pop accessibility, whilst forsaking the hybrid factor that propelled them to fame. It's by no means a bad album, but one that doesn't do the band justice. Do check this out if you like 70s inspired occult rock though. Or if you didn;t like this check out Jess And The Ancient Ones or Orchid.

★★★☆☆ Average - Half of album is listenable

Steve Harris - British Lion Review

Steve Harris - British Lion [Hard Rock] 





If you were looking for Iron Maiden-esque music, you're gonna have a bad time. Hideous vocals and an overpowering bass that undermines a rather tasteless guitar, and not to say Steve Harris is even trying to play properly. Worse than Mike Portnoy's Adrenaline Mob, seriously. Don't waste your time. 

★☆☆☆☆ Rubbish - One or two good songs