It’s hard to pinpoint the rise of Ghost. Could it be the mysterious prosthetic masks, could it be the riff laden demonic rock music that they play? Could it be the musicians are anonymous and known as the Nameless Ghouls, or could it be that they hail from Sweden?
One things for sure, it hasn’t taken Ghost that long to become ultra popular in today’s music camp and this American tour has really propelled them into superstars. Whilst finishing up their current Ultimate Tour Named Death for 2019, the band made a trek to the downtown area of Trenton, New Jersey for one incredible evening of music.
Along for the entire tour were support Nothing More which are also a stellar band in their own right. They opened the show with a great forty-five minute set of blazing songs including Don’t Stop, Go To War, and Jenny.
I would have thought for a small arena (“only” 10,000 capacity folks!) that the show would have been sold out, but when you have multiple events going on in and around the area, it’s probably a tough choice of what to see and where. Honestly for me, Ghost was the hands-down choice for variety, great song lyrics, musicianship and a stage show that will never compare to any normal rock act, which makes them unique as a band.
With a black curtain draped over the entire stage and band crew getting everything prepped the band to take center stage, the intros began to play, it felt like we were in a church ritual, I could see the smoke rising and then the lights gleamed out from behind the curtain and the first opening song Ashes got the show off to a fantastic start..
I have seen this band a few times and if I were to compare then this new show wins hands down. The Nameless Ghouls in this new guise seem head and shoulders above other incarnations. It’s not always about the main individual in bands or supergroups anymore , it is more about the entire show with a fan immersed in the visual experience rather than glued to their cell phone and a band like Ghost certainly puts true emphasis on fascination and creating a great spectacle.
I absolutely love the interaction of not only Cardinal Copia (singer Tobias Forge) centre stage but also many of the, seven strong, Nameless Ghouls head banging, constantly running from side to side and even at one-point fist-pumping each other. Cardinal Copia is the fourth and perhaps less identifiable masked creation as the band leader of Ghost following on from the iconic skull and mitre of Papa Emeritus.
Sitting through twenty plus songs is nothing less than stellar with Cardinal Copia heckling the fans “ So this is Trenton New Jersey” he taunts… “what do you say we get to know each other a bit better, sort of like a first date, you tell me about you and I will tell you about me”….. nothing wrong there, by all means, give it your best shot.
They performed one of the heaviest songs from their 2016 album Meliora, Cardinal Copia addressing the fans and saying, “are you ready Trenton this will rock your willy off… it’s called Mummy Dust“.
No Ghost rock show would be complete without pyrotechnics, there is loads of smoke rising from beneath the stage the entire time and hell-raising flames soaring across the stage and the dollar bills shooting out from the confetti canons makes for a fantastic reach out and grab some cash game show.
Finishing off the night with Dance Macabre and the encore that earned them radio success Square Hammer nailed the coffin shut on a great experience of Ghost in concert on this North American tour What a rock show to get your energy and excitement fix, it’s a night’s rich ritual never to forget in Trenton New Jersey.
Live Review & Photography by Steve Trager at Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton, New Jersey for Ghost on 25th October 2019.
