GHOST // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
Metalheads rose from all over to see the controversial band, Ghost, and were treated to a set packed with drama, passion, humour and intensity – viewing the stage was as issue but the sound was quaking.
GHOST PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 18.11.2019
PICTURE BY: | CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Ghost is a heavy metal band from Linköping, Sweden. They take a genre known for pushing limits and they push further. Forming in 2006, they have come a long way to get to where they are now. The group has unleashed four feature length albums and has spoken publicly of their next release scheduled for 2021. The year 2019 was a huge one of touring for the group. Combined with their own worldwide schedule; they opened for giants Metallica on their WorldWired Tour from May to August. Ghost has embarked on a 137 show tour of their own in the last year and Glasgow hosted the Scottish section as part of what was called The Ultimate Tour Named Death.
One of Ghost’s supports was the American, heavy blues rock group, All Them Witches. They are known for diverse, unexpected arrangements. Their style is unique and defiant. They have had to face some membership changes in the last year, but have moved forward undeterred and their Glasgow set was a triumph. As fans filed in they were treated to an eclectic wall of sound that shook their bones.
Tribulation also acted as support for the night. They are a Swedish black metal band who smashes out hyper-fast, high velocity metal guitar mixed with shattering drawn-out breaks. Vocalist Johannes Andersson spits his brutal lyrics like curses on the audience. Complete with dark, gothic, makeup; they were every bit perfect to set the scene for Ghost to come out and take charge of the delighted crowd.
And then it was time for Ghost and they came out looking on form. Frontman, Tobias Forge, has been successful in past at concealing his and bandmates’ identities. Forge’s name was only confirmed in 2017 after a lawsuit forced him to reveal himself; however his style continues to evolve. Forge adopts personas on stage. One of his most notorious is Papa Emeritus – an anti-pope who celebrates Satan. Using facial prosthetics, heavy face paint and a sharp tuxedo, Forge takes the form of current character is Cardinal Copia. The rest of the band is known as A Group of Nameless Ghouls and few have been conclusively identified. It been suggested that members rotate and the line-up for recorded work differs totally from that when performing live. Rumours even depict Foo Fighter icon, Dave Grohl, as having played secretly with the band.
Cardinal Copia began his set in a tight, slick, red suit before later donning a black one. The stage was set like a church. Faux brickwork stairs were set up around the place, framing a grand stain glass display of a scene from Hell. The band, other than Forge, had on classic ghoul masks and everything looked incredible. Unfortunately, there was no screen display for the performance which meant that thousands of fans struggled to see the intimate details put on for the night.
They played heavily from their third album Meliora as well as their latest release Prequelle. More recent singles ‘Rats’ and ‘Faith’ received adoration from the fans. One of the most unbelievable parts of the set was the song ‘Devil Church,’ a soaring but demonic instrumental. Then, to finish this number off, Ghost lead in to Scottish group The Proclaimer’s ‘500 Miles.’ Track ‘Miasma’ is certainly one of Ghost’s most diverse and features a penetrating saxophone solo. Papa Nihil plays horn for the band and tore it up on stage at the Hydro.
The set had a tremendous, building energy throughout and it created an explosive atmosphere throughout the night. Ghost began to draw the main set to a close with the recent singles ‘Dance Macabre’ and ‘Kiss the Go-Goat’ before then moving on to an encore featuring the powerful ‘Sorrow in the Wind’ and everyone was on their level. Standing fans furiously moshed and those seated threw up their arms and mashed their necks. The arena was rejoicing their stars and amazing spectacle they had just been a part of.
Ghost played an epic set for the Scottish fans. Load with charm, Forge is a siren. The night surprised with its individual tailoring to its location and attendees left exalted. The night let down by the lack screens and fans on the balconies missed the fine details of the set, however, with sound so satanically superb, one can be sure Lucifer will not be sending them to heaven for their mistakes.
SETLIST: | GHOST : THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 18.11.2019
TAPE INTRO: | Klara Stjarnor - (Jan Johansson song)
TAPE INTRO: | Miserere Mei, Deus - (Gregorio Allegri song)
Ashes - (Instrumental Intro)
Rats
Absolution
Faith
Mary on a Cross
Devil Church - (Instrumental with 500 miles extended jam)
Cirice
Miasma - (Papa Sax Solo / Instrumental)
Ghuleh / Zombie Queen
Helvetesfonster - (abridged Instrumental)
Spirit
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Ritual
Satan Prayer
Year Zero
Spoksonat
He Is
Mummy Dust
Kiss the Go-Goat
Dance Macabre
ENCORE:
Sorrow in the Wind - (Emmylou Harris song)