Tobias Forge of Ghost talks about theme of new album
By Devin Shea
Tobias Forge of Ghost talks in a recent interview about the theme of the upcoming album, Cardinal Copia and what this album means to him.
In terms of news and teasing information, the Swedish band Ghost reigns supreme in the last couple of weeks. With the release of their videos Chapter One: New Blood and Chapter Two: Introducing the Cardinal and more on the horizon, we’ve been hearing from them regularly.
On April 6th during a private show previewing music from their upcoming album, Loudwire was given the opportunity to pick the brain of front-man Tobias Forge about the songs and album’s darker theme.
It’s no secret between the words of Papa Nil and Forge’s first “unmasked” U.S. interview that darker times are ahead in terms of the music’s theme and the band’s theatrics. With a heavier focus on the Middle Ages, plague, and death, Tobias Forge had this to say on the opening track, “Rats”:
"“When we made ‘Square Hammer,’ we needed a big opening track. It was inspired by various explosive opening tracks and records. Specifically, when I was a kid, there was a concert called the Moscow Peace Festival. It was broadcast on TV. It’s one of those moments that I remember so clearly, I was eight years old. Ozzy Osbourne opened with ‘I Don’t Know,’ and it’s such a fucking great opening track. This was in front of like 80,000 people, who went nuts. I wanted to have that feel with ‘Rats.’ It’s supposed to feel like that sort of opening track. A song that could get 80,000 people to jump. If you ever want to play bigger places, you need to have records that sound like you’re playing in big places.”"
Image courtesy of Ghost
Ghost has been very secretive on information regarding the new album, its release date and even on the announcement of Cardinal Copia. It’s assumed all will be revealed in more videos to come. Not that anyone should be complaining. The videos are well-made, entertaining and hilarious at times. Tobias did release a little bit about the new album:
"“Essentially, it’s a record about survival, even though it’s a record totally drenched with the threat of death. But for me, it is pure, very honest, very real, and for lack of a better phrase. very sincere, Ghost has always been about make-believe. And it’s still about make-believe. But it feels very good to create something that is totally from the heart — not to say that previous records have not been from the heart. But this is very close to the heart. And still be able to intertwine those things…..It feels like I’ve accomplished that now. It feels like I’ve made a record that merges the two, I feel relieved about that.”"
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 19: Mary Goore of Ghost band performs on stage during a concert in the Rock in Rio Festival on September 19, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
It would seem fans have a lot to look forward to with this new album. Will the changes in theme and message effect the sound of Ghost that we have come to know and love? I don’t know but it seems this album means the most to Forge. I will leave you for now with some wise words from Tobias Forge that applies to more than just music:
"“Once you get people’s attention, you have a greater responsibility to tell them something of value.”"
Next: A new era begins as Ghost introduces Cardinal Copia
Stay tuned for more updates on the new album from Ghost.