Album Review: Ghost - Meliora

Ok — we're all sick of Ghost's schtick by now, right? The endless guessing games of which musicians are behind the masks; the various incarnations of Papa Emeretius (are they up to Papa III or Papa IV now? I forget.), and the downright circular discussions about whether these guys are actually 'metal'. Yawn. But despite this growing annoyance there's no denying that Ghost have songwriting chops most bands would kill for. Opus Eponymous was a master class in catchy Blue Oyster Cult worship and Infesstissumam was a dark voyage through an ever-expanding musical palette.

Luckily, the outfit's musical nous continues on album number three and more than makes up for the annoying hype machine that surrounds them. Opening track Spirit deftly combines '60s pop with hard-driving rhythms that would make The Scorpions and Deep Purple proud. The riffs keep coming on the muscular From The Pinnacle To The Pit and the surprisingly bass-heavy Absolution. Other efforts, like the stomping Cirice, somehow manage to be seriously heavy before twisting into a hummable chorus that will stay with you for hours. He Is is perhaps the most intriguing cut, with acoustic guitar and vocals that evoke Simon & Garfunkel, but still manages to spark a completely creepy vibe.

Overall Meliora, minus its two superfluous instrumentals, is another strong effort from the mysterious Swedes. With songs this good it's worth putting up with their legion of publicists and manufactured Satanic panic.