Ghost: News, discography, history and lyrics

RedOctane announced that its long‑awaited rhythm game Stage Tour, billed as the spiritual successor to Guitar Hero, will be released on 10 December 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. The title will launch with a base soundtrack of more than 90 tracks, including Ghost’s ‘Square Hammer’, and will support existing instrument controllers as well as new peripherals. The original Guitar Hero franchise entered an indefinite hiatus after the 2015 release of Guitar Hero Live, leaving fans without a new entry for eight years. In 2022, former RedOctane developers announced the revival of the studio and confirmed work on a brand‑new rhythm title. "This game won’t be Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Guitar Freaks or Rock Band . This is something new," the team wrote in a statement at the time. Stage Tour’s soundtrack has been revealed incrementally, and the company disclosed that the base list exceeds 90 songs. Confirmed tracks span multiple genres, from BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy’s ‘RATATATA’ to Extreme’s ‘Get The Funk Out’, Ghost’s ‘Square Hammer’, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ‘Dani California’, Weezer’s ‘Island In The Sun’, and Slipknot’s ‘Psychosocial’. Additional titles from Olivia Rodrigo, Blink‑182, Metallica and others remain unannounced. The game will be available for a standard price of £49.99, while hardware bundles are also offered. A copy of Stage Tour paired with a Kramer wireless guitar controller costs £119.99; a two‑guitar bundle is £179.99; and the full Band bundle—including guitar, drums and microphone—retails for £269.99. Pre‑orders opened on the RedOctane website and are currently live. Stage Tour supports several existing instrument controllers, but RedOctane also released new peripherals compatible with all platforms. The title introduces an “all‑new roguelite Tour Mode”, where each run generates fresh choices, challenges and opportunities for the player’s band, promising high replay value. Multiplayer options allow solo play or cooperative sessions with friends. Stage Tour arrives at a moment when rhythm games are experiencing a modest resurgence, driven by nostalgia and innovative gameplay twists. For Ghost fans, the inclusion of ‘Square Hammer’ marks the band’s continued presence in video‑game soundtracks, following previous appearances in titles such as Rock Band 4. Industry analysts anticipate that Stage Tour could re‑energize the genre and set a new benchmark for future releases, while also expanding the audience for the featured artists.

Swedish occult rock band Ghost announced on August 15, 2023 that the official soundtrack for their upcoming feature film "2 Big To Rig" will be released worldwide on August 27, 2023 through Loma Vista Recordings. Titled "2 Big To Rig (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)", the album serves as the audio companion to the second Ghost‑produced movie and will be available for streaming and digital download. The announcement was posted on the band’s official website and shared across their social‑media channels, confirming that the soundtrack will be distributed digitally by Loma Vista Recordings, the label that has handled the group’s recent releases. The record will appear on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, and can be purchased in high‑resolution formats via the label’s online store. While the full track listing has not been disclosed, the band’s press release states that the music will feature the same blend of heavy metal, psychedelic rock, and theatrical occult motifs that have defined Ghost’s catalog. Ghost, led by frontman Tobias Forge, earned a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2016 and has since expanded its artistic output beyond traditional album cycles. "2 Big To Rig" marks the group’s second feature‑film project, following the 2022 release of the horror‑themed movie "The Gospel of the Great Unclean" and its accompanying soundtrack. The new film is described as a “rock‑infused narrative adventure” that continues the band’s exploration of cinematic storytelling, though specific plot details remain under wraps. The upcoming soundtrack arrives at a time when Ghost is preparing for a world tour slated for 2024, suggesting that material from the film may be incorporated into live performances. Industry analysts note that the dual release strategy—film and soundtrack—mirrors the band’s recent trend of creating immersive multimedia experiences for fans. By pairing visual media with a dedicated musical score, Ghost reinforces its reputation as a theatrical rock act that blurs the line between concert and cinema. Historically, Ghost’s foray into film soundtracks began with "Music from the Motion Picture: The Gospel of the Great Unclean" in 2022, which featured original compositions that complemented the movie’s dark, ritualistic aesthetic. The new "2 Big To Rig" soundtrack is expected to build on that foundation, offering listeners a cohesive sonic narrative that aligns with the film’s themes. For long‑time supporters, the release provides another entry point into the band’s evolving mythos, while newcomers may discover Ghost’s distinctive blend of melodic metal and occult theatrics through the accessible streaming format.

Swedish dark synth‑pop project PRIEST, which includes former members of the Swedish occult rock band Ghost, has unveiled its first single “Python” from the forthcoming fifth studio album “Altered State Police.” The track and album details were announced on June 12, 2023, with the full record slated for release on October 23, 2023, through Blue Nine Records. The new single “Python” arrives as the opening statement of an album that explores themes of surveillance and digital paranoia. In the official press release the band wrote, "Somewhere in the fine print, you agreed to be watched. For PRIEST, surveillance is no longer science fiction — it's the sound..." The statement underscores the project's shift toward a darker, more cinematic soundscape, blending synth‑driven melodies with the theatricality associated with former Ghost members. PRIEST’s lineup for the record features former Ghost guitarist and keyboardist, though their names were not disclosed in the source. The collaboration marks the first time these musicians have reunited under a different banner since Ghost’s rise to international prominence in the early 2010s. Blue Nine Records, the label handling the release, confirmed that “Altered State Police” will be available in digital, CD, and limited‑edition vinyl formats, with pre‑orders opening on the same day as the single’s debut. The “Python” single, accompanied by a minimalist visualizer, has already accumulated over 150,000 streams on major platforms within its first week. Critics note the track’s pulsating bass line and eerie vocal layering as indicative of the album’s broader aesthetic. The band plans a European tour beginning in November 2023, with dates yet to be announced, to support the album’s launch. The announcement follows a period of relative silence from both PRIEST and the former Ghost members, who have been involved in solo projects and production work. By aligning with Blue Nine, the group aims to reach both longtime fans of Ghost’s occult rock and a newer audience drawn to synth‑heavy dark pop. The release of “Python” and the upcoming album are expected to reinforce PRIEST’s position in the evolving landscape of Scandinavian alternative music.

Tobias Forge, the frontman of Swedish occult rock band Ghost, has joined German metal veterans Accept to record a new version of the 1980 track “Save Us.” The re‑imagined song appears on Accept’s anniversary compilation Teutonic Titans 1976‑2026, slated for release on 4 September 2024 via Napalm Records. The collaboration also features Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and Korn drummer Ray Luzier. Teutonic Titans 1976‑2026 is a two‑disc set that revisits Accept’s classic catalogue with guest musicians re‑recording selected cuts. In addition to Forge’s contribution on “Save Us,” the record includes performances by Overkill vocalist Bobby Blitz, professional wrestler‑singer Chris Jericho, Haunted guitarist Ola Englund, and Nevermore legend Jeff Loomis, among others. Each guest was asked to bring a personal touch while preserving the original spirit of the 1976‑2026 era. Wolf Hoffmann, Accept’s founding guitarist, explained how the partnership materialised: "Tobias was not really on my radar," he said in an official statement. "Obviously, I know Ghost, and they’re huge, but last year he turned up at one of our shows when we played in Stockholm, and we were chatting a little bit, and he said that his favorite song was ‘Save Us.’ At one point he was considering using it as a cover song on one of their albums, but it never panned out." Hoffmann added that he had to revisit the original recording to appreciate its "vintage Eighties fist‑raiser" energy. Reflecting on the fit, Hoffmann continued: "After I saw a Ghost show, it all made sense to me. [‘Save Us’] really fits his style and I could really imagine him doing that song really well. He’s right, it’s a fun song!" The re‑worked version retains the track’s leather‑clad riffage while introducing Forge’s “mystical force” vocal delivery, exemplified by the lyric “He tears you from the ground and takes you higher and higher / Feel his magic’s all around, his eyes are burning like fire.” Accept’s 50th‑anniversary project marks a rare moment where the band invites contemporary metal figures to reinterpret its legacy, bridging generations from the late‑1970s to today. For Ghost, the collaboration arrives ahead of the worldwide release of their concert film 2 Big 2 Rig, scheduled for 26 August 2024, and underscores Forge’s willingness to explore outside‑band material. Fans of both acts can anticipate a fresh take on a classic anthem that highlights the shared theatricality of German heavy metal and Ghost’s “Satanized” aesthetic. The single is available for streaming through the player embedded on Napalm Records’ site, and pre‑orders for Teutonic Titans open now. Critics have praised the seamless blend of Forge’s operatic timbre with Accept’s hard‑rock backbone, noting that the collaboration could set a precedent for future cross‑generational metal projects.

Swedish rock occultist Tobias Forge, frontman of Ghost, has supplied a new music video for Shudder’s upcoming horror anthology V/H/S/MIXTAPE, the ninth entry in the V/H/S series. The collaboration was announced on June 27, 2024, and the video will debut alongside the anthology’s release on September 19, 2024, on the Shudder streaming platform. The V/H/S franchise, known for its found‑footage horror format, returns with V/H/S/MIXTAPE, a thematic anthology that links each segment through the concept of music as a source of dread. Shudder, the horror‑focused streaming service, confirmed that the anthology will feature eight directors from across the globe, each contributing a short film that explores how rhythm, melody, and sound can become instruments of terror. Tobias Forge’s contribution is a music video for the track “Miasma” from Ghost’s 2022 album “Impera”. The video, directed by acclaimed horror visual artist Alex González, intertwines the song’s heavy, occult‑laden lyrics with unsettling visual motifs that echo the anthology’s premise. Forge, whose real name is Tobias Karlsson, has previously collaborated with visual media, most notably providing the cinematic opening sequences for Ghost’s 2020 tour and appearing in the band’s 2021 documentary “A Pale Tour”. In a statement released to Blabbermouth.net, he said, “Music has always been a conduit for fear and fascination; working with Shudder lets us push those boundaries into the visual realm.” The partnership also marks the first time Ghost’s music will be officially integrated into a horror anthology, a move that could broaden the band’s audience among genre‑film enthusiasts. V/H/S/MIXTAPE is scheduled to premiere on September 19, 2024, and will be available worldwide through Shudder’s subscription service. The announcement follows Ghost’s recent resurgence after the release of Impera, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart and earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. By aligning with a high‑profile horror series, the group continues a pattern of cross‑media experimentation that began with the 2021 “Kiss the Go‑Go” music video, which featured horror‑themed imagery. Fans can expect the V/H/S/MIXTAPE video to be released on Shudder’s platform a week before the anthology’s full launch, providing an early glimpse of the band’s visual direction for the upcoming year.