Our Reaction to Monstrance Clock by Ghost

[@dethringr]

I wish Ghost still close out their rituals with this song again. Such a great ending song.

[@sfen1227]

100% agree with you on that

[@jebadiahfyefye8994]

It’s a cool song and def was neat when they closed shows with it but I think square hammer does what they’re wanting to do. They want to end it with a big banger and square hammer is that.

[@dethringr]

@@jebadiahfyefye8994 i like when they open with Square Hammer.

[@dethringr]

@@jebadiahfyefye8994 Square hammer kind of set the tone on what kind of energy it’s going to be.

[@ffsvelchin]

agreed! i love kaisarion as an opening and monstrance clock as an ending song

[@KalloSkull]

Interestingly enough, this song is actually about how organised religions throughout history have often seen female sexuality as evil, and specifically it's about the female orgasm. He used to explain it at concerts before they'd play this song, and they'd occasionally even have "nuns" throwing condoms to the audience while they played it. You can pretty much conclude that the line "come together" in fact is referring to a man and a woman having a simultaneous orgasm while having sex. And because the female orgasm in this case would be seen as evil, they're "coming together for Lucifer's son". That's the main gist of the lyrics, although obviously there's multiple layers to them as is always the case with Ghost's songs.

[@kevinwest2044]

Hi, I am writing a graduate rhetorical paper on Ghost, do you have links or know where I can go to obtain this information?

[@wolandbegemotazazello]

@@kevinwest2044 Papa called this a hymn to the female orgasm during live rituals in the Meliora/Popestar era. This song closed the ritual. Square Hammer opented the ritual. There are interviews with Forge out there from around 2016 and 2015 that talk about the meaning of these songs. There are also interviews that talk about Crowley and Levay. Monstrance clocks, cruxifiction clocks, are real.

[@magnusblomqvist966]

And in one of those times he had Lizzy Hale from Halestorm playing one of the nuns handing out community together with her friend in the other costume.

[@spiderling88]

The live version with the monologue at the beginning will make you blush and give a much different spin on the song.

[@GabbyWesker1960]

They used to play this song to close their rituals until the prequelle era, still bummed that they changed that, this remains as one of my favorite ghost songs ever.

[@jonartscc968]

I feel like it might come back for the full tour. They obviously had to shorten the setlist for the double headliner shows with volbeat

[@kevinwest2044]

are their albums called "rituals"?

[@iansimmons735]

@@kevinwest2044 Yes

[@alien_666]

This is my most nostalgic ghost song. This was always the last song in the live setlists from 2013 to 2018. The crowd singning the final chorus was the best.

[@DeviousWeaselUK]

If you listen to this song on repeat, it gets very hypnotic. Especially that last part with the choir and organ.

[@kathrynchambers5344]

Ya'll should listen to the live version on Ceremony and Devotion. It will tickle your taint.

[@jute4970]

This is definitely one Ghost's best song, perfect ending for the album and for their rituals.

[@heavymetalfarmer6102]

Even some Magna Carta Cartel.

[@TECfan1]

Nice. Another masterpiece. 🤘🏼

[@jonmcguire4910]

I've really enjoyed your deep dive into Ghost. I ran across the Papa II live "Here Comes The Sun" vid on YT and my life hasn't been the same since. I hit my stride in the 80's and love horror movies, Kabuki Theater, KISS Army, and those great 80's bands. Ghost pushes all those old buttons for me. Tobias is a musical genius, and as such, there is no shortage of talented musicians who want to work with him live and in studio. Anyway, now that you are this far in, consider avoiding live performances until you've worked your way through the discography..? Their Live performance video's are next level and the perfect way to experience Ghost in a whole new perspective. They are out of this world live. Thank You.

[@suesserj17]

The breakdown of this song is still one of my all time favorites

[@TrueVanguardhasterribletakes]

My request is Bible!

[@DaP84]

Definitely, they have to do this one!!! Even though they don't know thew the original

[@shre661]

Bible is loveeee

[@steveallen6412]

Do you two have any plans to do a reaction to 'If You Have Ghosts'?

[@VaultCourier380]

Such an anthem. Infestissummam is one of the best albums of Ghost.

[@captaincaptain2128]

It was, until Impera.

[@jackconorria4033]

@@captaincaptain2128 but Impera has Twenties on it

[@VaultCourier380]

@@captaincaptain2128 i said one of the best. For me, probably is Impera or Meliora.

[@captaincaptain2128]

@@jackconorria4033 Twenties is a great song, whatchu talking about?

[@dillonfehr7545]

Infestissumam is just so underrated

[@bostonceltics3055]

Snippets from wiki when recording the Infestissumam album: "They did have difficulties in the Nashville area; because of their Satanic lyrics the band could not find a choir to perform on their record. Even individual choristers turned down the work. The band said, "Then we told them what they were supposed to sing, and one of the guys almost cried, he took offense; it was really weird ... So we ended up recording the choir in Hollywood, where people have no problem with worshipping the Devil." :) Also, in many occasions in their concerts the chorus was sung by a children choir :)

[@CassetticonTune]

Another great reaction! I wish I had gotten to see this song preformed live before it was retired, it's such a good singalong. Anyways, I can't wait to see what's next on your reaction list!

[@FlameImperishable]

Con clavi con dio!

[@CassetticonTune]

@@FlameImperishable Yes! You'll enjoy the bass on that one!

[@PernilleFromHansen]

This one is SO amazing live :-D

[@richardsmall5514]

"Monstrance" isn't a made-up word. It's an item found on altars in Catholic churches. "Monstrance clocks" also exist. Anyway, great song, great reaction! Thank you :)

[@ChristyAbbey]

Took me a bit to realize that it was short for "remonstrance".

[@armyofcats666]

It would be fun to see you guys react to some of Tobias' stuff before Ghost, like Subvision or Repugnant. It's fun to listen to these bands and catch the similarities to Ghost.

[@heavymetalfarmer6102]

Maybe even some Magna Carta Cartel .

[@TECfan1]

A monstrance clock is actually a type of golden or silver cross shaped clock that was used in the Catholic Church starting in the Renaissance Period and used as part of their holy rituals. They apparently fell out of fashion.

[@FlameImperishable]

I added it on our cover photo

[@TECfan1]

@@FlameImperishable Nice, I do see it now. 😁

[@redhawk666x]

Love all these Ghost breakdowns! Keep up the great work. Btw, I'd love to see you guys breakdown UNDER THE SPELL by ME AND THAT MAN. Lemme know if you recognize the voice of the vocalist. 😁

[@danb5944]

Still going on the ghost back catalogue..that intro reminded me of a band I used too like ..the third and the mortal not sure if anyone knows of them.. they had some good albums in the 90s

[@Em013L]

Woo finally!

[@vladcuervo1208]

React to Per Aspera Ad inferi next, pleaaaaaase

[@neonspec]

Yessss. Gotta do the Infestissumam intro with it too though ;)

[@TECfan1]

Yes but only if they include Infestisumam the song in the same reaction. That transition is iconic.

[@vladcuervo1208]

@@TECfan1 damn then it must be live too, i actually love the transition with con clavi con dio final part

[@TECfan1]

@@vladcuervo1208 Ghost has some of the best transitions.

[@danielpavlik7242]

They should do Infestissumam and Per Aspera Ad Inferi together

[@wordswordseverywhere9113]

You guys should check out some of the covers from the If You Have Ghost EP.

[@jeffreycortes4506]

Please listen to La Mantra Morí, it’s an amazing song by ghost that everyone seems to ignore. I love Tobias’ voice in that song.

[@mattynutrition9353]

Make me very happy to see Christians who can get into Ghost and enjoy their music. Yes, lyrics can be interpreted as dark and evil, but they are just lyrics. If there is one word that I would use to describe Ghost, it simply is 'fun'.

[@mattynutrition9353]

This is great indepth interview with him. Highly recommend it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5Lagmqcmax2aM0

[@FlameImperishable]

I can enjoy all types of art even if I don’t agree ideologically with the artist on various things! Good music is good music.

[@dizinhonogueira7976]

Secular haze, next 🙌🏻

[@FlameImperishable]

It's coming soon!

[@NamelessGhoulGamer]

@@FlameImperishable When you do Secular Haze please do the live P3 Guld version, great live performance debuting the new Infestissumam era costumes on national television

[@TECfan1]

Another one of my favorites from Infest.

[@dizinhonogueira7976]

@@NamelessGhoulGamer yeahh

[@dizinhonogueira7976]

@@TECfan1 this song is a masterpiece

[@bostonceltics3055]

Conceptually all their albums (but mostly the first ones) follow a theme. First album is about the rituals performed before the birth of the antichrist, the second album is when the antichrist was born (the album art shows a satanic infant in a cradle etc), the third album is about a "grown-up" antichrist, while Prequelle is about the Black Death (Plague) and somehow seen (as you said) as a prequel to the birth of antichrist etc. Also all the history of the various popes and cardinals and the entire backstory. Nonetheless they're also good musicians and Tobias a real genius composer.

[@Mongoloco]

Take a look at their song death knell👌🏼

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

This song is a hundred times better live

[@whatrllymatters]

I always looked at it as about sex lol. Heard papa say that before a few times. Incredible closer though. From my personal favorite album.

[@lowbow9028]

Imagine giving the lyrics for church choir when recording this…

[@des5592]

Apparently, he struggled finding a choir in Sweden to do it. So he had to go to California. There, they’ve probably had to sing all sorts of wild stuff. 😂

[@AlastorsShadowDemon]

@@des5592 Not sweden, America of course. Nashville, Texas to be exact. He ultimately found a choir in Vegas who would sing the songs.

[@des5592]

@@AlastorsShadowDemon Initially we meant to have the choir parts recorded in Nashville as well, which didn’t work out. There wasn’t one professional coir that would accept doing what we do. They didn’t want to lend their voices to that. Then we tried another idea, that was to get a few choir-interested people into the studio, three at a time maybe. Sort of make a choir that way. Upon hearing what they were supposed to do on the phone, they were turning it down. Finally we had three guys come into the studio that were willing. Somehow the communication had been broken down because they were, “Okay, what are we doing?” “Oh, you don’t know? Okay, it’s a theatrical performance, sort of like The Omen.” Then we told them what they were supposed to sing, and one of the guys almost cried, he took offense; it was really weird. But it comes from the fact that we’re a rock band, and when you’re a rock band there’s no difference between what you say, what you do, and what you are. Whereas nobody would go into the studio in 1976 and ask Jerry Goldsmith if he believed in Satan or not. But that’s how it is. So we ended up recording the choir in Hollywood, where people have no problem with worshipping the Devil. [laughs] web.archive.org/web/20130525185739/social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/blog--an-interview-with-ghost-bc

[@chuckthefreak]

If you have ghosts........please

[@balamx2802]

A "monstrance clock" was a crucifix-shaped clock used in church rituals during the Renaissance era. Not really sure what it has to do with the song.

[@TECfan1]

Well as said in the beginning: "To the sound of the monstrance clock, Air is cleansed, assembled flock, Black candles burn, all minds aligned" So they're doing a little ritual of their own. And we all know who that ritual is for...

[@ronald_curl]

Since you like the old Ghost songs....go back to 2015...Repugnant with Mary Goore, aka Tobias Forge.

[@baker5256]

guys could you use a microphone , you are hardly heard

[@InvUnk]

LOL i lasted 20 seconds into the song love GHOST despise poser uppies thinking the have a clue about Ghost or anything else in life

[@revylokesh1783]

This song is about sex. Nothing more, nothing less.

[@afrodisiac6270]

There is no such thing as nothing more in any Ghost song lol. It's about sex but not just sex itself.