Swedish rock band, Ghost was established in 2006 in Linkoping by the band’s frontman, Tobias Forge, and his former bandmate from “Repugnant”, Gustaf Lindstrom. Before the release of their first two songs, the band’s leader, Forge suggested that the group be made an “anonymous theater band” and because of this, Forge is the only known band member but uses the name “Papa Emeritus” or “Papa Nihil” while other group members are addressed as Nameless Ghouls.
The Grammy-winning band currently has eight members, with seven of the members wearing identical face-concealing costumes and are known as Nameless Ghouls while the frontman, Forge (Papa Emeritus) uses a prosthetic mask and black or multicolored eye makeup along with cardinal vestments to play the character of Papa Emeritus represented as a demonic Anti-pope.
Ghost’s existence has been strictly an anonymous band. Tobias Forge gave up his identity just in 2017 due to a feud with past band members. The other band members remain anonymous. The portrayal of a catholic pope by the band’s frontman has raised controversies and has led new listeners to ask questions like: is Ghost a Christian band? Some listeners in need of good music bands are posing the same question. If you are in any of these categories, read down as this article will provide answers to your question.
Is Ghost a Religious Band?
A religious song can be classified as a song written as a devotional to any given faith. A religious band produces songs based on religious influences and these songs vary based on the type of religion.
Members of the band have not given any details about their religious backgrounds. The Nameless Ghouls do not grant public interviews and there is no information about their personal lives.
However, as a band, Ghost has been very expressive of their beliefs in the Satanic religion. Their songs, music videos, concepts, and even live performances have been described as Satanic in nature.
The band’s first album “Opus Eponymous” released in 2010 talked about the arrival of the Devil using biblical terms. Other albums by the band talk about the presence of the Devil or the “Antichrist” as popularly known, on earth. Below is a song by the band that contains a deep spiritual message about Satanism:
“Believe In One God Do We
Satan Almighty
The Uncreator Of Heaven And Soul
And The Invisible And The visible
And In His Son
Begotten Of Father
By Whom All Things Shall Be Unmade
Who For Man And His Damnation
Incarnated
Rise From Hell
From Sitteth On The Left Hand Of His Father
From Thes, Shall Come To Judge
Out Of One Substance
With Satan
Whose Kingdom Shall Have No End
Hear Our Satan Prayer
Our Anti-Nicene Creed
Hear Our Satan Prayer
For The Coming Of Seed”
What kind of Music Band is Ghost?
Ghost has been known for incorporating different music genres to produce harmonic and classic sounds. The band is popularly known as a hard rock band, however, they have employed other genres like; heavy metal, doom metal, pop rock, progressive rock, and psychedelic rock.
These genres of music are characterized by aggressive and vigorous vocals, distorted electric guitar, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, slow tempo and heavier sounds intended to evoke a sense of dread and impending doom, poetic lyrics, electronic influences, and reference to hallucinogenic drugs amongst others.
Doom metal is a fusion genre of death doom, gothic doom, stoner metal, and black doom. This genre is defined by down-tuned instruments, heavy guitar tone, minor tonality and slow tempos, gloomy and pessimistic lyrics, and occult and pagan imagery.
The themes prevalent in songs by Ghost include; religion, death, suffering, depression, grief, anger, dread, and fear. The band is popular for its eccentric on-stage presence, creativity, and theatrical performances. They mentioned that they are influenced by everything ranging from classic rock to the extreme underground metal band of the 80s, film scores, and the grandeur of emotional harmonic music.
The band also stated that they do not intend to be just a metal band, rather they’ll employ diverse writing styles to be able to deliver unique sounds to their fans. According to one Nameless Ghoul, “we tried to deliberately make every song have its signature.”
The band’s theological answers to philosophical questions in pop culture have made them popular in the metal scene and have garnered them a lot of fans. The band currently has 5 studio albums that have received several nominations and awards. Their most recent album “Impera” released in 2022 emerged as the favorite rock album in the American Music Awards. The band’s single “Cirice” won the Grammy awards as best metal performance in 2016.
Ghost has also been nominated for and won several awards like; Bandit Rock Awards, Grammy Awards, and Kerrang! Awards, Loudwire Music Awards, Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, and P3 Gold Awards.
Is Ghost a Christian Band?
A Christian band is a band whose songs are centered on the teachings, pillars, and principles of Christianity. Songs by a Christian band contain Christian themes and messages and make references to the Bible.
Members of a Christian band must identify as Christians and this should also be reflected in their lifestyles. It is not enough to label the band “a Christian band”, without the lyrical composition, themes, and other components of the band’s music reflecting Christianity.
Different Christian bands have adopted music styles and genres like; metalcore, hip-hop, pop, blues, folk, and rap to make their songs exciting and appealing to diverse audiences.
Ghost is not a Christian band. The band is not affiliated with Christianity. The band portrays Satanism as seen in their stage performances, cover art, music videos, and graphics.
Ghost Band Christian Songs
Some songs by Ghost contain some Christian and biblical influences which are used to portray how people deal with a supreme or spiritual being. However, songs by the band do not promote Christianity, spread the gospel, or contain other elements to be qualified as a Christian song. As such, the band has no Christian songs.
Is Ghost a Satanic Band?
Satanic religion is one in which members believe in Satan, also called Antichrist or Demon, who is believed to be the central figure of Satanism. One will identify a Satanic band from its songs, music style, beliefs, and practices. Their songs glorify the Devil and promote demon worship.
To be labeled a Satanic band, such a band must possess the features listed above. Ghost’s lyrics, music videos, concepts, and visuals are satanic. Satanism and religious imagery have always been linked with heavy metal music and Ghost has taken this to another level.
During live performances, the band decorates the stage like an evil church and the artists are fronted by a Satanic priestlike figure dressed in a catholic pope’s regalia. The prosthetic mask and makeup make the outfit look demonic. Other members of the band wear identical face-concealing costumes that make them look scary and represent the band’s name.
Ghost revealed that the band’s imagery is influenced by the band’s love for horror films and the traditions of Scandinavian metal. The band’s leader, Forge suggested that they wear black hooded robes and stay anonymous. They are only identified as the “Nameless Ghouls”, while the frontman dresses in a pope’s regalia and paints his face to resemble a skull leading to their choice of name “Ghost”. One of the Nameless Ghouls in an interview stated why the band conceals its identity. According to him, they do that to allow the audience to focus on their music and artwork instead of the members.
The band’s Satanic themes and styles have caused problems to them in countries like the U.S. At one point, their music was banned from the mainstream media but lately, it has started gaining acceptance. Their music blatantly makes use of Satanic lyrics infused with sexuality, blasphemy, doomsday, devil glorification, and other Satanic elements. Below are typical songs by the band with their usual Satanic elements:
“Depth of Satan’s Eye” by Ghost
Through scapes of murmur
Noisy walls of sound
Without a starlit night
Shores are nowhere to be found
On seas of wonder
Ye confused strays
Without a guiding light
You see no ways
Into the eyes of fire
Into the gaze ablaze
Into the burning light
Of Satan’s rays
Into the source of wisdom
Beyond the Bible lies
Into the endless depth
Of Satan’s eyes
“Monstrance Clock” by Ghost
“Come together
Together as one
Come together
For Lucifer’s son
To the sound of the end of the day
Mesmerized, the assembled sway
Black candles burn, and all minds aligned
Hypnotizing horns of a ram
Paralyzing pentagram
And the eerie sound of the monstrance clock
Singing”
Conclusion
Ghost has been very expressive about its Satanic beliefs. From the band’s name, themes, concept, and imagery, one can easily decipher that the band is Satanic in nature. Though members of the band are unknown and there is no information on their backgrounds, the band has been collectively identified as a Satanic band. The band has only used Christian terms for blasphemy and has no other affiliation with Christianity.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!