Album Review: GHOST – Meliora

GHOST – Meliora

Ghost come out on top offering a compelling addition to the overarching message of self-determined freedom with a well-crafted album that rocks harder than ever. Meliora…delivers more of a modern edge with sharper teeth when compared to its predecessor, while maintaining continuity with the overall evolution of the band’s characteristic sound.

Earlier this month Swedish rockers GHOST announced the newly ordained frontman Papa Emeritus III who, along with his Nameless Ghouls, will release the third full-length studio album Meliora on August 21, 2015. The album was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, and will be released via Loma Vista Recordings. The album’s artwork – depicting a city that forms a portrait of Papa in its use of negative space – was created by Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak who also created artwork for Infestissumam. Bielak’s already impressive portfolio features some truly wicked pieces and his musical artist roster includes Behemoth, Sólstafir, Vader and Watain, among others. [columns] [column size=”1/3″]

Meliora – the successor to 2013’s Infestissumam – delivers more of a modern edge with sharper teeth when compared to its predecessor, while maintaining continuity with the overall evolution of the band’s characteristic sound. Opener “Spirit” starts with organ and choir kicking off a 70s rock-inspired journey that features a tasty guitar and keyboard harmony section midway into the song, while the infectious bass groove of “From the Pinnacle to the Pit” lays the foundation for the guitar riff and vocal melody that drive this track through each verse onward into a chorus that sticks in your head long after the music has stopped. “Cirice” begins with a sinister sounding ‘call and response’ guitar melody that breaks into a dark, haunting and dynamic track. You can check out the video below. “Majesty” offers up some Deep Purple/Black Sabbath-worship with its monolithic guitar and organ opening riff, while dark anthem “Absolution” provides us with an enduring chorus, and harmony guitar flourishes that reflect the ongoing influence of 70s-tinged prog-rock found throughout the Ghost discography. “Spöksonat” and “Devil Church” provide instrumental interludes, the former features a brief instrumental keyboard prelude comprised of delicate harp-like samples, while the latter brings the sounds of choir and organ together into a devilishly epic composition.

Ghost come out on top offering a compelling addition to the overarching message of self-determined freedom with a well-crafted album that rocks harder than ever. Meliora is Ghost’s strongest effort to date, and the congregation welcomes Papa Emeritus III with open arms.

“Cirice” Official Video

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Ghost has announced a North American headlining tour this fall, entitled “Black to the Future” tour:

09/22 Washington, DC – The Fillmore
09/23 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
09/25 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
09/26 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
09/27 New York, NY – Terminal 5
09/28 Boston, MA – House of Blues
09/30 Montreal, QC – Metropolis
10/01 Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
10/02 Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theater
10/03 Chicago, IL – The Riviera
10/05 Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall
10/06 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
10/08 New Orleans, LA – The Civic Auditorium
10/09 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
10/10 Orlando, FL – Beacham Theatre
10/11 Tampa, FL – The Ritz
10/13 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/14 San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
10/16 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
10/17 Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
10/19 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
10/20 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/21 Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
10/23 San Francisco, CA – Warfield
10/26 Los Angeles, CA – The Mayan Theater
10/27 Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
10/28 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
10/30 San Diego, CA – Northside Park Theater
10/31 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
11/01 Phoenix, AZ – Monster Mash Festival

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