5 Reasons Why Ghost Is Awesome

5 Reasons why I love Ghost and their music. Analysis and explanation as well as demonstrations are included.
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[@MrMvidz]

My philosophy is "a great song is a great song", no matter of what decade the song is from or what genre it is. Ghost/Tobias Forge loves music, and it shows. Certainly not a rip-off, rather a tribute to rock, hard rock, metal and ABBA-esque pop music.

[@mountainousterrain1704]

Hi Nico, good job on turning the evil up to 11 on this one!

[@Aurainmaker]

My favourite music KZbinr and my #2 band. Yes! You can see how Live After Death inspired Tobias in everything he did. He has the showmanship and the live presence of Maiden in mind with all he does. Tobias has a natural song writing brilliance to know how to make appealing and attractive music, and how to find people who know how to make something pop, in both genre and sonic sense. People who might skip Ghost because they aren't always truly heavy or are popular are missing out big time. It's genius writing.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Absolutely!! And thank you so much for the huge compliment!! 😊

[@Mnilsen91]

Ghost are one of my favorite bands ever. More Ghost content, please! 🤘🤘🤘 Greetings from Norway! 🇳🇴

[@r.v.g.1679]

Saw Ghost 3 times. Great shows. Love first album

[@jjaramos]

I watched Rite Here Rite now at the cinema a few weeks ago, it was fantastic and can't wait to buy it on Blu Ray. Hope Maiden releases new concert videos in the future, they are in short supply overall these days, sadly.

[@jonatanmarques6942]

They are fantastic!!

[@norrsken9608]

Excellent video! Love to see more Ghost videos from you in the future. 🎉 Rite Here Rite Now both sounds and looks spectacular. Eventhough it isn’t just a straight up concert movie it is really great to see a new proper arena rock concert movie honouring the spectacular classics such as Live After Death. And to see it in a cinema was really awesome. The story and continuation of the lore going on in it is a real nice bonus to a spectacular concert movie. Thank you for highlighting Ghost on this excellent channel.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thank you so much for your very kind support!! I appreciate it a whole lot. 🙏🏻 I enjoyed the way the storyline was blended in I am definitely glad I saw it at an actual cinema too. How was the crowd where you watched it? Was there a litte audience participation, a bit like a concert atmosphere or was it more like watching a regular movie?

[@norrsken9608]

Thank you Nico for making great videos! 😊 I agree! I think they tied it in pretty nicely. It had surprisingly many showings in Sweden spread throughout the country. I saw it in a small town so there were maybe 30-40 something in the cinema.. So people weren’t really acting like it was a live-event, but most folks around me seemed to really enjoy it and looked quite satisfied and applauded at the end of the film.. I managed to get one of the two cinema posters after the movie was over and the posters were taken down. I hope there was a good crowd at the cinema you attended. Any audience participation in your cinema?

[@Bandit72]

The film was outstanding. What made it complete was the ban of mobile phones in the audience, how concerts used to be, with the crowds focus entirely on the stage. Would love to see you do more Ghost stuff Nico!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I'm sure I will do more on them at some point in the future. 😊

[@NBTKDA]

I love Ghost, the movie was great! I’m really looking forward to the full release of the soundtrack later this month, the live versions are so good with the ladies on backing vocals.

[@4stringz.]

Love Ghost so much ever since I first heard Ritual. Tobias seems like a cool guy as well. I first saw them with Maiden in Brooklyn on the Legacy of the Beast tour

[@Superjenson]

I love Ghost and i have seen them live once. Fitting to this channels roots, it was opening for Iron Maiden in Berlin.

[@DiegoDeschain]

Ghost absolutey rocks. Tobias is a genius. The only weak link in their entire discography is Infestissumam, all the others are albums I love from start to finish, Impera probably being my favorite.

[@MegaThrasher95]

Ghost and Maiden are my two favorite bands 🤘🏽It was awesome getting the chance to see both during the Book of Souls/Popestar tour.

[@luchoPueyo]

I first met the band with Cirice song! Awesome band

[@DekuAtreides]

Ghost are fantastic, saw them twice in 2019 as support for Metallica and their own standalone show later that same year! I also got my partner into them so win win 😅🤘 Biiiig fans of Papa II, Popestar and good old Cardi C 😂 Great video covering their stuff Nico, as always 🤘 Congrats on all the recent milestones and work too 😁

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🤘🤘

[@LordNerevar1]

For me Ghost resembles a modern shock rock band, which I think suits them perfectly. Saw them few years back opening for Iron Maiden in Poznań and last year as the main headliner of Mystic Festival in my home town. I'm so happy for what they've acomplished. All the things you've said are mine reasons to love them too. The bands large sound and stage presence and whole spectacle is something everyone should experience. Great video my friend and awesome work on those riffs and breakdowns. When i saw your post on instagram I coudln't wait to finally go home and watched your video here on YT. Cheers!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It really is a band that should be experienced live! I agree with that 100%! Thanks so much for valuing what we're doing with this channe. I appreciate that a whole lot! 😊🙏🏻🤘

[@jasondesjardins7371]

Very good video and analysis as always. I really like Ghost. I also think they have this cool disco-ish Eurotrash vibe that permeates everything. Interestingly enough, Tobias Forge said that Maiden is a huge influence not only sonically but visually too.

[@steevelapointe7441]

Incroyable comme d’habitude Nico! A metal fan here that is not ashamed to say that he loves Ghost! I saw them many times live. Always super funny. Satan kawaii horror kinda.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Je te remercie!! Satan Kawaii Horror sounds like a cool band name 😄🤘

[@Blackstonevalley_ghuleh]

Thanks for this feature on Ghost and what makes them so special. I saw them open for Iron Maiden in 2017 and quickly fell down the rabbit hole … becoming a huge fan. Interesting note: Fredrik Åkesson of Opeth tracked all of the guitars on Impera.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

There's something really special about discovering a band that way. As I was saying to someone else here, it's like you get the full experience of what the artist is all about right from the get-go. 😊 Glad you enjoyed this one and thanks so much for watching!!

[@DiegoDeschain]

Miasma is such a good song that it's not even funny.

[@Rudyasroma]

Awesome video! Saw Ghost for the first time in 2014 at Fortarock (slayer and iron maiden were headliners). I never heard of them and expected a black metal performance based on their appearance when they entered the stage. I was blown away when started playing, it was so catchy and evil sounding at the same time, so I was hooked right away. Saw them again in 2019 as an opener for Metallica and last year as a headliner. The whole storyline behind the band has made it so cool to follow them and see what’ll be next. Tobias is the man!

[@merrihalma]

I saw Rite Here, Rite Now last month and loved it. I want to see it again. I can't wait for the next Papa to be announced.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Same! I knew it was gonna be a cliffhanger 😅

[@squishygothdude]

Ghost Rocks!!!

[@makmanos]

I had seen your videos a couple of times and I liked them, but now that you've revealed you've been such a big Ghost fan, I have to subscribe and give you some thumbs up! I agree so much with you regarding the Ghost sound. I grew up with the sounds of '80s heavy metal, being an early teen when Metallica were coming out with Ride the Lightning , and when I first heard of Ghost, which was incidentally during their Popestar tour when Iron Maiden brought them to the US, I was like "what the effff where has this band been hiding since the '80s!" Saw Rite Here Rite Now, and it was a blast, too bad I was with a quiet crowd in the theater or I'd be screaming like in a Ghost concert

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thank you so much for watching and I really appreciate that you chose to stick around for more vids in the future! 🙏🏻🤘 It's interesting that many people I've spoken to say that the crowd in the theater was quiet... Maybe it was because they were engrossed in the storyline. Which is kinda cool actually 😃

[@BaseGolfer25]

Man if you love harmonies, please cover some old Queensryche riffs. Queen of the Reich, I don't Believe in Love, Walk in the Shadows, and Another Rainy Night (Without You) are just a few gems

[@CC-qb9sm]

I saw Ghost twice with Maiden on the BoS tour. I really wish I’d have taken the time to get to know their music prior to seeing them. Their music is in fact, catchy, hypnotic, and addictive. Dig them a lot now, just wish I could get a do over on those concerts!! Thanks for putting in the effort on this one. I really enjoyed it. Have a great weekend!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I know how you feel! It happened to me with a few bands (like White Zombie!) but the upside is that the first time you hear their music was in a live setting so you got the visual aspect as well 😊

[@lorettahookano6139]

It would be great if you could cover some of Merciful Fates material

[@ianfurqueron5850]

I agree with you on how Ghost seem to be a love them or hate them band. My first experience with them was when they opened for Iron Maiden on the Book of Souls tour. I thought they were fun. My friends hated them and considered them just a Diamond King rip-off. Then during the pandemic, creator Adunbee would always end her Twitch streams playing along to Square Hammer. She is also Norwegian and perfectly embodies the idea of Ghost - playing driving guitar parts with a beaming, happy-go-lucky smile (unfortunately, she developed a severe case of carpal tunnel and hasn't streamed guitar playing in a while). I haven't bought any Ghost CDs yet, but I will eventually. I think they're a fun band and write fun songs.

[@monkeyon777]

Place 'Here Comes the Sun’ after ’Stand by Him’ on the album Opus Eponymous. It really completes the album.

[@temorinkaari]

I love Ghost. I would love to see someone recreate their impera live tour guitar tone (after 2019). It's so massive and amazing, especially the lead guitar, gives me chills listening to it

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I agree! Per Eriksson's lead sound is ridiculously good! Sounds like he's not piling on the gain so it's nice and full.

[@temorinkaari]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Yeah, exactly! I've been trying to recreate the tone for a few years now, and and i just can't get it right. There are some very specific nuances to his tone, like the pinch harmonics sound like..voice cracks? Don't know a better way to describe it. And also you can hear the picking noises almost as loud as the notes themselves. The tone is tight, but also smooth and round at the same time. So i don't know, i'm kind of lost. Will have to wait until the rite here rite now songs get released, but i feel like they will be mixed slightly differently and the guitar tone will be slightly different to the live tone

[@michaeldean7220]

Still not convinced about the image although admittedly as you suggest it's all a bit tongue in cheek. I was vaguely aware of them but only saw them live supporting Metallica at Twickenham stadium UK back in 2019. As a Maiden and Metallica fanatic my expectation was low and I was expecting some doom laden growling vocals. However, it was 'lighter' than I thought and particularly enjoyed Dance Macabre and Square Hammer which had great riffs and were very catchy. I also liked the onstage banter which was again a little tongue in cheek. The old adage of ' never judging a book by it's cover ' has never been more appropriate. I'm making it my mission to check out more of their stuff :) In the meantime Nico and back to Maiden. Could you please do a piece on Adrian's live solos for the track Book of Souls. The live chapter one recorded at Donnington is awesome. Many thanks

[@bjorneriksson6480]

I like the SG, it is lively and distinct sounding, sharper than the dull les paul and more rock and roll than the pompous Fender. Good guitar.

[@craigmurphy1204]

Can you do some stuff about Big Country? Would love to see a breakdown of songs like Inwards, Remembrance Day, Save Me and Chester's Farm (that solo is insane)

[@charlesfarrugia7898]

The song call me little sunshine sounds ozzyish. 😎 Cool 😎😎😎

[@olivergarner1746]

I think Tobias’s approach to solo writing is that he gets a melody in his head, and tries to find that on the guitar rather than thinking of particular scales - hence there are some odd and awkward finger patterns. It feels like it doesn’t matter where the notes are, only that the song needs them. Cirice and dance macabre spring to mind as examples. I’d also just add he’s obviously studied liturgical music as the organ constantly crops up to add tension, and is a massive part in making you feel like you’re attending a satanic mass.

[@Teme0520]

🤘🏻🔥

[@sabrepax9012]

I m a big fan of Ghost since I ve discovered them on the Maiden tour of 2017. Indeed Tobias Forge is very cool and has genious ideas... Nevertheless, I was wondering why the two last albums were so "strong, complete and catchier"... It s because Tobias works or deals with outsider professionnal commercial song writers mostly of the Swedish pop school... With the band 🎸 sound, it then results a Scorpions 🦂80s hard rock musical product à la Vatican🇻🇦...

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

True! I am a big fan of hooky choruses so I appreciate the little nuances that make them as good as they are. It's like when Alice Cooper worked with Desmond Child... The catalog is filled with awesome songs but as far as hooks go, Poison and Bed of Nails are on another level!

[@wizaxed]

Nico - I saw Ghost open for Iron Maiden a handful of years ago. Was a very theatrical stage show - Satanic Church themes - but didn't feel "evil". It wasn't over the top in a grotesque way, but still felt "religious". The music was pretty good - I like some of their stuff - but the real show was all about MAIDEN!!! \m/

[@user-kl7ug9dr2k]

Nice sg ...they used to call the sg the fretless wonder...because usualy they have a nice comfortable thick feel to the strings that if you dont press the strings down too hard you fell like you're playing a scalloped guitar sometimes ...also on the subject of gibson guitars I see Dave murry has been playing a les paul traditional 2010 ....the traditional ones agave a nice thick kneck

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I love playing this guitar! Gibsons in general, I've always felt very comfortable with... The Gold top Les Paul I play on some videos is a 50s standard with a fairly chunky neck too. Maybe a bit thicker than what I consider ideal, but still very nice to play!

[@user-kl7ug9dr2k]

@LicksOfTheBeast I get what you're saying my uncle Martin plays in the maiden scotland tribute band and the still marilion tribute band recently the real guitar player of the marilion band Steve has asked my uncle Martin to become the singer of" the steve rothery band "..."SRB"....I'm really proud of him they went to Holland to do the last gig ...Martin was near into his 50s when he got this opportunity..."Never give up ure musical ambitions"....if u know anybody who like marilion tell them to give the steve rothey ban a listen ..rock on!

[@RicardoRivera-vh3ol]

For me it was square hammer. I also saw them opening for Maiden and was very impressed by the whole show musicianship and stage presence. Are the guitars tuned to Eb?

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It's all in D standard 🙂

[@gower1973]

Call me little sunshine is the only one of theirs I’ve learnt so far, but hoping to more when I get round to it, Cirice is my favourite though and Miasma is one of there best and hasn’t even got any words in it! Its the shift in gear half way through that sets it off the chain.

[@andycpd6669]

I have never listened to ghost, I think I will have a listen to them, I will go through every album because no doubt I will like a few of there songs, just like to say you are a sh+t hot guitar player 😅

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Much much appreciated!! 😊🙏🏻🤘

[@STERNWAERTS]

i always thought they have one of the sexiest logos, but the music... i wonder what awaits me in this video!

[@STERNWAERTS]

good riffs but those poppy choruses and stuff... no man, still not for me, at all... 😬

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

They don't feel poppy to me at all... I find they're more like huge rock choruses. But it's all a question of taste 😊

[@charlesfarrugia7898]

?? What do you think of ynguie mamlsteen??

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Yngwie is an absolute beast!

[@santiagoleyva6864]

where do you get your Iron Maiden shirts

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Some from the official store, others from places like Rockabilia, and the jerseys are from WaSport in Brazil.

[@igorrogi4368]

Actually you are not right about solos being composed and recorded by Tobias. For the last record it was Fredrik Akesson of Opeth and one of Candlemass guitarists who lay down the solos. Fredrik was also present on the previous one.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's why I specified "many, if not all, of the *earlier* solos". 😊

[@goncalomartins7933]

Nice video as akways, congratulations! As an old fan of the band, pretty much since their first records, i'm no so sure about Tobias credits, especially on the first 3 records. Of course he is brilliant, and the stategist behind the band's direction, especially nowadays. I don't want to dive in too much, on the whole "soap opera", of the band break up after the "Meliora" cicle, but it's undeniable that the band changed a lot since then, and i dare to say that Martin Persner / Omega Ghoul, who was there with Tobias since the begining, played a major key in crafting the sound. Just to clarify, i still enjoy the new stuff, but it just doesn't appeal to me as much as their first releases.

[@mavisser3211]

Sweety tune that low E

[@UltraPvnk]

The first album is amazing. Overall too "corporate" a band for me to enjoy. Midnight Priest's Aggressive Hauntings, In Solitude's The World The Flesh The Devil, Blade Killer and of course Mercyful Fate however... \m/

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

All big touring acts are corporate to a degree. Without that mindset, tours of that scope and magnitude couldn't be profitable/sustainable. Just look at Iron Maiden 😊

[@MetalGildarts]

I’m not down with the satanic themes but good video nonetheless Nico. Have a good weekend

[@beansandcornbread]

Don’t worry, none of it is real.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Their lyrics typically describe either evils that exist/existed in the world (as a critique or warning) or a version of Satanism which is mostly humanism with religious symbolism. It's never about embracing or glorifying evil... But I can see how someone might be turned off by the imagery if it's not their thing. Fortunately there is plenty of good music around to keep us all happy and rockin' 😊 Cheers! 🤜🤛

[@MetalGildarts]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I see. Well I just go by how I feel. If the lyrics don’t make me feel good then I dip. But that rarely happens.

[@robotatomico83]

Did we just become best friends, Nico?

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

🤜💥🤛

[@Brian_Vallejo]

I was really into them at the beginning, but with each subsequent album becoming less and less interested. Gave the most recent album a listen once, but couldn’t get into it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I think that's fair...it happens with some artists, as their sound evolves it might be less appealing to those who liked it specifically because it was a bit simpler and more direct. I remember when Meliora came out, it took me a few listens before I really got into it. 😊

[@samright4661]

Ghost tried to be Kiss , keeping the identities hidden until the original guitars players sued Tobias and he had to reveal his identity! Tobias didn’t want to share money and song writing royalties

[@tommyforghe8709]

Everyone knew exactly who they were, people just went along with the secrecy, But when they toured in support of opus Tobias was hanging out with fans. Secondly there is much more to the issues between Tobias & the people who sued him, most people tend to ignore that they used his deceased brother against him to blackmail but they also threatened his wife and kids

[@samright4661]

@@tommyforghe8709 Who cares Ghost sucks

[@tommyforghe8709]

@@samright4661 Really, it seems that you are a verbal dexterity impaired individual who is upset that certain things didn't work the way you wanted/thought it was. I wish you a good day regardless

[@Lildub877]

I saw the movie and was at the concert at the forum, it was such a great experience to watch it live without phones everywhere. The movie felt like I was experiencing it all over again. Also the solo for respite on the spitalfields is truly a work of art 🤌🏻

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Respite is amazing! When I first heard the ending I thought it was super cool that they reprised the opening melody of Imperium. Then when I realized it was an allegory for history repeating itself, I absolutely lost my sh*t!! 😄😄🤘🤘

[@knightfall9394]

They lost me after infestissumam

[@ghastlynavigator]

Catchy songs, willingness to sellout...thats why they are dominating. I personally miss the complexity and originality of Ghost B.C.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

The only selling out I see from then is the packed arenas 😄 Also their music became progressively more complex. Especially over the last 3 albums!

[@transcendentalarts5942]

Can't stand em.

[@ozzie4306]

First album was good. After that they lost it.