Ghost: New album will be more apocalyptic than Meliora

Ghost
Ghost

Ghost leader Papa Emeritus, aka Tobias Forge, says that the next Ghost album will be “more apocalyptic” than 2015’s Meliora.

In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal disguised as a Nameless Ghoul, Forge gave a hint of what fans could expect from their as-yet-untitled next album and gave some insight into the writing process.

Forge says: “Having in mind that the previous record was about the absence of God or the absence of deities, this new one is going to be about the return of God.

“You know, God’s wrath cast upon the suffering humans. So it will be a little bit more biblical in that sense which in turn makes it darker, a little bit more apocalyptic, I think. That’s basically what I can tell you about it right now.”

He says that he’s constantly working on material which has been around for up to 10 years and likes to incorporate new ideas – with any tracks not suitable for what will be the band’s fourth full-length studio album already planned for their fifth record.

Forge adds: “It’s a pick and mix of a lot of different ideas and stuff laying around – a lot of new stuff being added to the pile.

“It’s a constant thinking ahead, and now, I’m thinking about album no. 5, because there are songs coming out now or being written that I feel won’t fit into the new album, so I’ll put that one onto the next one instead.”

Forge and four ex Ghost members are currently embroiled in a legal dispute, with Simon Soderberg, Mauro Rubino, Henrik Palm and Martin Hjertstedt suing Forge for “missing wages and allowances for several years” and are asking him to disclose the band’s revenue and expenses between 2011 and 2016.

Earlier this month, Forge responded to give his side of the argument, saying that “no legal partnership” existed between himself and the four musicians.

Ghost are currently on tour with Iron Maiden across North America. Find a full list of their 2017 live shows below.

Ghost 2017 North American tour dates

Jun 26: Midland La Hacienda, TX
Jun 27: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheatre, NM
Jun 28: Phoneix Talking Stick Resort Arena, AZ
Jun 30: Fresno Rainbow Ballroom, CA
Jul 01: San Bernardino Glen Helen Amphitheatre, CA
Jul 02: San Francisco The Warfield, CA
Jul 03: Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena, NV
Jul 05: Oakland Oracle Arena, CA
Jul 07: West Valley City USANA Amphitheatre, UT
Jul 08: Denver Fillmore Auditorium, CO
Jul 09: Lincoln Pinnacle Bank Arena, NE
Jul 11: Kansas City Sprint Center, MO
Jul 12: Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, MO
Jul 13: Indianapolis Egyptian Room, IN
Jul 14:Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre, IN
Jul 15: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON
Jul 16: Quebec Centre Videotron, QC
Jul 18: New Haven College Street Music Hall, CT
Jul 19: Mansfield Xfinity Center, MA
Jul 20: Philadelphia The Fillmore, PA
Jul 21: Brooklyn Barclays Center, NY
Jul 22: Brooklyn Barclays Center, NY

Ghost’s Papa Emeritus: Call it a solo project if you want

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.