Ghost
Rock Metal Machine- Apr 24
- 4 min read
Artists: Ghost
Venue: Manchester, AO Arena
Date: 15 April 2025
"...one of the best I’ve ever seen. The lack of phones was definitely a contributing factor to the latter, and a lesson to us all to live in, and enjoy the moment."
As my sister and I approached the venue, I began to worry that we were not going to make it to our seats for the scheduled start time of eight o’clock. The queue we were in literally snaked around buildings approaching the train station entrance; however, once it began to move, it did so very quickly. This was a first for me, mobile phones having to be put in security pouches for the duration of the performance, which also meant mentally remembering your seat number once inside the arena. To my surprise, ninety-nine percent of fans had made it inside by the time the lights went down, and the show began. The problem for the one percent remaining was they had no phones to guide them in the darkness and thus had to rely on the stewards. I’m not sure how shining a torch in my eyes was help to anyone…
As the music began Papa V Perpetua (aka Tobias Forge) appeared on the video screens on either side of the large stage to a noisy reaction, one that I’ve rarely heard quite so loud, in my years of concert going. It was the young fans that were generating the incredible energy levels and bringing us older ones along for the ride, and what a ride it was. I also think the lack of mobiles added to the atmosphere, ensuring people concentrated on the show and not distracted by their phones.
As the opening track ‘Peacefield’ continued (first of four new tracks debuted tonight), the tattered black and white curtains fell to the floor. I was surprised that the screens weren’t slightly larger considering the size of the venue. For the first half hour the set was dark, with lots of dry ice shrouding the stage and foreboding grucifix (sic) hanging over Papa and his supporting cast of eight Nameless Ghouls. They were all exceptional; however, I must mention the bassist whose playing was phenomenal, augmented by a tremendous menacing Metal sound. Latest single ‘Lachyrma’ was next up, and what was obvious to me, was that the band’s live sound was infinitely heavier than on their studio releases. Prior to the show I would have described Ghost as a cross between Alice Cooper and Def Leppard; however, now having finally seen them live, I would describe them as a blend of KISS, Alice Cooper and Megadeth, with a generous sprinkle of Swedish wizardry.
From there on in the set virtually changed for every song, from cathedrals to the deepest depths of Hell. It was neither tongue-in-cheek nor sinister, but it was definitely dramatic, with the theatrics simply elevating already great songs to even higher levels. Papa had a few costume changes but without interruptions to ruin the flow. This was the first show of the ‘Skeletour’ 2025 but there were no signs of opening night nerves nor glitches in any of their performances. The crowd covered all the age and sex demographics, many in fancy dress and face make-up in approbation of their idols.
New songs, the aforementioned openers plus ‘The Future Is A Foreign Land’ and ‘Umbra’ from the forthcoming ‘Skeletá’ album, were greeted with the same reverence as the older classics, including seven from fan-favourite, 2015’s ‘Meliora’, including ‘Spirit’, ‘From The Pinnacle To The Pit and ‘Cirice’. There didn’t appear to be any drop off in momentum from the band or hysteria from the crowd as the classics kept coming, ‘Year Zero’, ‘He Is’ and ‘Rats’, and at one period Papa appeared to be floating above the rear stage in full Papal regalia. ‘Mummy Dust’ was fantastic with tic-a-tape raining down on the fans down the front, whilst ‘Monstrance Clock’ was subdued in comparison to what had gone before but was merely a clever way of teeing up the encore, which was almost worth the admission price alone. The fever-pitch atmosphere went literally through the roof as we were blessed with ‘Mary On The Cross’, personal favourite ‘Dance Macabre’ and ‘Square Hammer’. Not many left early and most stayed to applaud Papa and the Nameless Ghouls for what had simply been a sensational one-hour-and-fifty minutes entertainment.
It wasn’t until I was driving home, and I subsequently looked at the setlist, that I realised only three songs featured from the last two albums. The latter was the only tad disappointing feature on an otherwise sensational arena show, one of the best I’ve ever seen. The lack of phones was definitely a contributing factor to the latter, and a lesson to us all to live in, and enjoy the moment. Having been fortunate to go to concerts throughout the eighties and see the likes of AC/DC, Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rush, etc. where the stage show was integral to the show, it’s nice to see a band like Ghost pick up the baton and run with it.
Definition of haunting: remaining in the consciousness; not quickly forgotten. That pretty much sums up tonight’s show from Ghost.
Setlist (contains spoilers)
Review: Mark Donnelly
Location:
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