Sharts, TikTok and a worrying omen for Papa Emeritus IV: the new Ghost video chapter is a trip (er, literally)

Swedish party spooks Ghost have uploaded the latest in their ongoing video series, which fleshes out and stitches together the narrative surrounding Tobias Forge's ghastly crew. In Chapter 14: Road Trip, we see Ghost singer Cardinal Copia/Papa Emeritus IV driving alongside Sister Imperator, Mr. Salterian and the ghostly visage of the deceased Papa Nihil (if you have no idea what's going on at this point, you best skip back to the first chapter of the series and start over).

Over the space of three short minutes, we get all sorts of shenanigans going on, including but not limited to: The Cardinal having to pull over after farting in the car (yes, really), the whole gang having to pull over after Papa Nihil sharts in the car (oh yes, really), the gang making an honest but doomed attempt to play the alphabet game using band names and, most tantalisingly of all, Mr. Salterian hinting that he knows when Papa Emeritus IV's "time is up". Could the latest incarnation of Ghost's Papal frontmen already be on his way out?

In addition to all that, we see Papa Nihil cheekily acknowledge the unbelievable second wind (no pun intended) of Ghost's 2019 single Mary On A Cross. The track was originally released as the b-side to the band's Kiss The Go-Goat single, but has taken on new life this year courtesy of a huge TikTok trend. With almost 170 million streams on Spotify alone, it's become Ghost's biggest song ever.

"I've heard my songs are trending on 'TikToks'," Nihil muses, seemingly oblivious to what any of that actually means.

Anyway, we can only really try and explain the video so far; you're probably best off watching it for yourself below. Ghost recently unveiled a spate of European tour dates for 2023, including a run with Spiritbox through France and a smattering of festival dates, with more expected to be announced. Latest Ghost album Impera is out now.

Ghost Europe dates 2023

May 21: Rouen, FRA – Zenith
May 22: Lyon, FRA – Halle Tony Garnier
May 23: Toulouse, FRA – Zenith de Toulouse
May 25: Rennes, FRA – Le Liberte
May 26: Lille, FRA – Zenith de Lille
May 28: Strasbourg, FRA – Zenith of Strasbourg
May 30: Nice, FRA – Palais Nikala
Jun 10: Solvesborg, SWE – Sweden Rock Festival
Jun 29-Jul 1: Seinajoki, FIN – Provinssi Festival
Jun 30-Jul 2: Helsinki, FIN – Tuska Festival

Merlin was promoted to Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has written for Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.