Ghost - Opus Eponymous (2010)

Abit of a mystery this one...many music fans finding much to rave about in this brooding cauldron of eeriness. I'm not so convinced...for a start, any band that dresses up as monks on stage is going to find it hard to be taken seriously, and the whole occult ethos breaks new ground, some in fact are saying that Ghost are nothing more than Mercyful Fate/King Diamond imitation. I tend to agree, because despite the atmosphere it creates, i.e. that of a cult congregated in a castle, this record begins to bore quite rapidly. 'Con Clavi Con Dio' is a dark, majestic track of chilling chords and creepy bass, and with an ominous build up 'Prime Mover' disappoints with its lightweight drone. And that's the big problem. Ghost promise sinister echoes, but fail to deliver in the repetitive strain injury of those dire riffs which seem regurgitated track after track. And then there's the vocals...imagine a simply mellow and less evil King Diamond, and that's the sort of demon preaching we have on offer. It's all rather wistful but I'm struggling to realise the chills, even as the stormy, macabre 'Ritual' shuffles in and the creeping 'Satan Prayer' shuffles out. Considering this record was named as the third best album of the decade by a Swedish Magazine, I'm left completely baffled by the hype, instead preferring to flick through my old Dennis Wheatley novels for a more genuine glimpse of darkness.

The band are clearly determined to create some type of mysterious aura about themselves, the vocalist, Papa Emeritus having a tendency to adorn himself in cardinal costume for the gigs. But, as the history of metal has told us, such imagery and satanic influence doesn't necessarily mean quality of music. Don't get me wrong, I love metal with atmosphere, but 'Opus...' begins to drag too quickly, boring me in the same way as Blue Oyster Cult and that '70s occult influence. Sadly, Ghost have the effect of the supernatural form they are named after, in that whilst they clearly are able to spook for the first few minutes, they quickly become no more harmful than Casper, the friendly ghost, the cut 'Elizabeth' a prime example of such Gothic yawning. The whole thing lacks weight and one call to 'Ghostbusters' and this one is quickly exorcised. Extra half a mark for the decent album cover.

6.5/10