Members of the Clergy gathered this Easter Saturday at London’s O2 Arena to see the latest incarnation of melodic metal band Ghost. Expectations were high as this was to be just the third show of the Skeletour with ‘new’ singer Papa V Perpetua – Tobias Forge takes on a new persona for each album cycle of Ghost’s career to date, almost like having a new Pope, extremely topical this particular weekend.
Ghost @ The O2 Arena
Those familiar with Ghost’s act know to expect a dazzling stage show, with plenty of tongue-in-cheek theatrics from both the vocalist and his masked band, known only as the Nameless Ghouls. Also notable is that this is billed as a ‘phone-free experience’ – audience members’ mobile phones are sealed in grey and green pouches on arrival and only reopened again upon leaving the venue. The intention is to encourage the crowd to engage more with the action on stage, and it’s noticeable as we wait for the show to start (no support this evening, it’s all about Ghost) that people are actually chatting to each other. The sudden pitch black when the house lights go down is jarring but welcome.
A huge, ruffled black sheet eventually falls and Ghost are here in all their glory. They begin with two new songs from the forthcoming album Skeletal, released on Friday 25th April. Performing Peacefield and Lachryma is a bold start, these new songs could fit cosily onto a setlist by Hysteria-era Def Leppard, and even though Peacefield is unreleased, and Lachryma is only about 10 days old, the crowd are loving it.
A muscular Spirit follows – an ode to the powers of Absinthe – with the band bathed in green light as they rip through it, sounding on top form. Next we’re treated to fan favourite Faith from the 2018 album Prequelle for its tour debut, the rapt audience sing back every word of the ‘I am all Eyes’ refrain.
Ghost @ The O2 Arena
The Future is A Foreign Land is the final song of Ghost’s Sixties trilogy (allegedly written by Papa V’s ‘father’) with the ironic claim that looking forward from 1969, 2024 will surely be free of oppressive regimes and be filled with love… How is that going, Papa’s papa?! The set also features Kiss The Go-Goat and Mary On A Cross, completing the psychedelia-tinged holy trinity.
It would not be an authentic Ghost live experience without some devil worshipping and we move to that section of the set with an absolutely electric version of Ritual – the best rendition your correspondent has ever heard – followed by He Is – imagine Rodgers & Hammerstein wrote a show-stopping ballad about ‘the beast with many names’, and you are not far off the vibe here. Brilliant.
Mummy Dust ends with streamers of confetti ‘mummy dust’ and what appears to be some actual dollar bills – “Now you are all rich!” announces Papa, to the crowd’s amusement. Monstrance Clock concludes the main set, the colossal screens behind the band imploring all in attendance to “Come Together, for Lucifer’s Son”. Indeed.
Ghost @ The O2 Arena
A few words on the singer’s latest rebirth then, Papa V Perpetua is a total triumph tonight, there are a lot less gags, he is a slightly more earnest performer than his predecessors, but none the worse for it. As he stalks the stage with a stunning array of natty sequinned jackets, his vocal is clear and strong, delivering each song perfectly. Notably, this Papa’s mask does not obstruct his mouth as previously, perhaps enabling the vocals to really soar. The Nameless Ghouls are a delight as always, wordlessly firing up both the crowd and each other with their gestures and incendiary playing, this band really does look a whole lot of fun to perform in and it really shows.
The stone cold classics of Dance Macabre and Square Hammer wrap up the night, and every member of the Clergy present are safe in the knowledge they had just seen one of the very best live acts around today. Look out world, Ghost are coming for your souls.
Live review of Ghost @ The O2, London on 19th April 2025 by Alex Kavanagh. Photography by Ryan Chang.
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