Review of Ghost - "Meliora"

INDEPENDENT INSANITY

By: Geoff Teach

Whether or not you like or understand Ghost, one undeniable fact is that the Swedish proto-metal sextet is one of the bands at the forefront of today’s tangible metal resurgence. Blending ingenious, classically-influenced musical composition with their own satanic brand of theatricality and showmanship has garnered Ghost immeasurable international acclaim - and scorn. But, love them or hate them, people everywhere are incessantly talking about them; and to quote Pietro Aretino (the 16th century playwright and pornographer), “Even when I’m railed at, I get my quota of renown.”

A few days ago, Ghost released their third full-length studio offering entitled Meliora, and once again, tongues everywhere are wagging with all manner of reactions to the group’s newest songs of praise for the devil. In this summation, however, you will find nothing but adoration and adulation for Meliora. Unholy hell, what an incredible record! From start to finish, Papa Emeritus III and the Nameless Ghouls have released an album that is melodic, macabre, and hypnotic. The production is full, the songwriting is brilliant, and the edge of the music has been honed and sharpened to scalpel-like precision; honestly, Meliora’s got it all.

Kicking things off with the soaring track “Spirit”, Ghost invite you to dance with the Green Fairy buried in a bottle of absinthe, and then as if to remind you from whence they came, “From the Pinnacle to the Pit” crushes and pounds its way into the blackness of your heart. Next, if the bridges and choruses of “Cirice” don’t make you feel like singing along, you might just be dead in the ears, and the ebb and flow of “He Is” should get your soul seeking to sell itself with its melodic hooks. “Mummy Dust” is one of my favorite tracks on Meliora, as its driving riffs and anti-capitalist message are nearly impossible to get out of my head well after listening to it. Finally, stellar tracks such as “Majesty” and “Absolution” round out the back end of this expert release, although the final cut, “Deus in Absentia”, probably could’ve used a different placement on the track list.

All in all, though, Ghost’s Meliora is auditory gold, and I urge all of my beloved readers to get out and purchase a copy as soon as possible.

Keep it Metal! \m/

To view the official video for “Cirice” off of Meliora, just press play below!