It's 2013. The London Underground still smells funny, Freddo bars are extortionately priced and Ghost have covered an ABBA song. With a ridiculous curve ball following their salacious sophomore effort 'Infestissumam' earlier this year, the Swedish masters of devilment have returned with a covers EP. Produced by Dave Grohl and featuring tunes originally penned by Depeche Mode and ABBA, could this be one step too far?
First up is a cover of If You Have Ghosts, written by genius and artistic god Roky Erickson. Opting for the over the top, theatrical approach implemented on 'Infestissumam', Ghost strip the track of its original grittiness and warp it into a tune made for arenas. Gone is Erickson's deranged drawl, replaced by Papa Emeritus II’s' smooth croon. It's all a bit odd, and it's about to get weirder.
The ABBA song. Ghost have gone and covered I'm A Marionette. It should be awful. Alarm bells ring, and horrifying memories of Cradle of Filth covering Heaven 17 spring to mind.
But the muscular, heavy as elephant shit main riff shows just how diverse Ghost are. The chorus is unintentionally hilarious, but otherwise, it's an absolute rager. The simplistic classic rock drumming keeps the band grounded, occasionally giving way for a cheeky guitar lick. Grohl's production has given the band a monumental boost, making them sound like an arena act now more than ever.
He balances dynamics perfectly, creating a luscious layer of noise during the cover of Army Of Lovers' electronica hit Crucified. This song also allows Papa to show off his 'evil vocals', growling through the verses and adding a gruesomely sinister tone before exploding into a cacophony of grandeur during the chorus.
The cover of Depeche Mode's Waiting For The Night is a bit of a stinker, never really taking off in the way that it should do. But, a live recording of the band's own tune Secular Haze is included, showcasing the strength of Ghost's material in that environment.
Ghost truly are a phenomenon. Having been championed by legends such as James Hetfield and Phil Anselmo, they've been under the microscope ever since they were torn from the metal underground. Living up to expectations has been nigh-on impossible for the band, so they've done exactly the opposite.
'If You Have Ghost' is the last thing you would expect from this band, and for a group still so early in their career, it's a bold move. While it may falter in places, this EP is Ghost showing the world that they have complete control of their future.
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