Era I — Papa Emeritus I

In 2010, Ghost self-released a 7-inch single titled "Elizabeth", their first official discographic appearance. The song caught the attention of Rise Above Records, the label of Cathedral vocalist Lee Dorrian, renowned for supporting cult doom and heavy metal bands. With Rise Above, Ghost signed and released their debut album, Opus Eponymous, in October 2010. The record was a manifesto: eight songs blending 70s heavy metal (Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult), Scandinavian progressive rock and explicitly satanic lyrics, all wrapped in clean production and catchy melodies that broke with extreme metal conventions. Songs like "Ritual", "Stand by Him" and "Death Knell" established Ghost's sound and mythology from the very first moment.

Opus Eponymous (2010): the debut that shook the metal world

Ghost's live performances with Papa Emeritus I were unique events: the singer appeared dressed in a black papal habit, skull-painted face, blessing the audience with priestly gestures while singing songs in honor of Satan. The Nameless Ghouls, in their black overalls and masks, surrounded him creating an atmosphere of macabre ritual. The band performed at the Roadburn festival in the Netherlands in 2011, where their performance was received with genuine euphoria. Ghost also toured Europe and took their first steps in North America, opening for bands like Mastodon. The identities of the members were a jealously guarded mystery and the specialized press had been speculating for months: who were these masked Swedes? In December 2012, Papa Emeritus I was officially "retired" at a show in Gothenburg before an enraptured audience, being brought on stage in a wheelchair and immediately replaced by his successor.

Papa Emeritus I: the first Ghost pontiff took the band to international stages