Swedish metal ghouls Ghost are often so mysterious that even they didn't realize their forthcoming new album Meliora was on its way. In a new interview, however, they've been more transparent than usual, offering a handful of tidbits about the new LP.
Speaking with the Metal Hammer Magazine Show podcast [via Blabbermouth], one of the band's nameless ghouls had a lot to say about Meloria.
He opened up about the album's title, explaining that its a Latin phrase describing "the pursuit of something better."
"It is actually more thematical with the lyrical content and the backdrop that we wanted to paint in front of which we're playing these songs, basically, which was supposed to be, or is supposed to be, a super-urban, metropolitan, pre-apocalyptic, dystopic futuristic thing," he added. "The title is more implying, ironically, this zenith that we think that we have reached. We're always building higher, and we're always getting a little bit faster, and everybody keeps earning a little bit more money, and everybody gets a little bit taller and a little bit tighter and a little bit."
He also explained that the band have opted to "revamp our schtick" for every new album, "just in order to keep it fresh and interesting.... And also, that was definitely a necessity, just because we are, also for lack of a better word, a gimmicky band. Like, aesthetically, we cannot live off, or feed off, our actual story the way that a more biographical band can, so we have to tell a story, basically."
While its unclear who, exactly, is in Ghost at any given time, the nameless ghoul also explained that frontman Papa Emeritus II is no longer with the group and has been replaced by a third Papa. "I think he's on some sort of vacation right now," the ghoul said. "Yeah, he's been relieved of his duties. That means that we have another one of those guys in house now, creating new problems. Different age, different problem."
Meloria arrives on August 21 via Spinefarm/Loma Vista Recordings. Ghost's upcoming tour dates are available below.
Tour dates:
09/22 Washington, DC - The Fillmore
09/23 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
09/25 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
09/26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
09/27 New York, NY - Terminal 5
09/28 Boston, MA - House of Blues
09/30 Montreal, QC - Metropolis
10/01 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
10/02 Detroit, MI - The Majestic Theater
10/03 Chicago, IL - The Riviera
10/05 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
10/06 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
10/08 New Orleans, LA - The Civic Auditorium
10/09 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
10/10 Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre
10/11 Tampa, FL - The Ritz
10/13 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
10/14 San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theater
10/16 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
10/17 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
10/19 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
10/20 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
10/21 Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
10/23 San Francisco, CA - Warfield
10/26 Los Angeles, CA - The Mayan Theater
10/27 Reno, NV - Knitting Factory
10/28 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
10/30 San Diego, CA - Northside Park Theater
10/31 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
11/01 Phoenix, AZ - Monster Mash Festival
Speaking with the Metal Hammer Magazine Show podcast [via Blabbermouth], one of the band's nameless ghouls had a lot to say about Meloria.
He opened up about the album's title, explaining that its a Latin phrase describing "the pursuit of something better."
"It is actually more thematical with the lyrical content and the backdrop that we wanted to paint in front of which we're playing these songs, basically, which was supposed to be, or is supposed to be, a super-urban, metropolitan, pre-apocalyptic, dystopic futuristic thing," he added. "The title is more implying, ironically, this zenith that we think that we have reached. We're always building higher, and we're always getting a little bit faster, and everybody keeps earning a little bit more money, and everybody gets a little bit taller and a little bit tighter and a little bit."
He also explained that the band have opted to "revamp our schtick" for every new album, "just in order to keep it fresh and interesting.... And also, that was definitely a necessity, just because we are, also for lack of a better word, a gimmicky band. Like, aesthetically, we cannot live off, or feed off, our actual story the way that a more biographical band can, so we have to tell a story, basically."
While its unclear who, exactly, is in Ghost at any given time, the nameless ghoul also explained that frontman Papa Emeritus II is no longer with the group and has been replaced by a third Papa. "I think he's on some sort of vacation right now," the ghoul said. "Yeah, he's been relieved of his duties. That means that we have another one of those guys in house now, creating new problems. Different age, different problem."
Meloria arrives on August 21 via Spinefarm/Loma Vista Recordings. Ghost's upcoming tour dates are available below.
Tour dates:
09/22 Washington, DC - The Fillmore
09/23 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
09/25 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
09/26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
09/27 New York, NY - Terminal 5
09/28 Boston, MA - House of Blues
09/30 Montreal, QC - Metropolis
10/01 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
10/02 Detroit, MI - The Majestic Theater
10/03 Chicago, IL - The Riviera
10/05 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
10/06 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
10/08 New Orleans, LA - The Civic Auditorium
10/09 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
10/10 Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre
10/11 Tampa, FL - The Ritz
10/13 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
10/14 San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theater
10/16 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
10/17 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
10/19 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
10/20 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
10/21 Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
10/23 San Francisco, CA - Warfield
10/26 Los Angeles, CA - The Mayan Theater
10/27 Reno, NV - Knitting Factory
10/28 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
10/30 San Diego, CA - Northside Park Theater
10/31 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
11/01 Phoenix, AZ - Monster Mash Festival
