Prequelle[LP]

What can I say about this album? No matter what I say, it probably won't be enough. This album is a musical Journey and is crazy good. The first two songs are the heaviest on the album, and then things do mellow out a bit into the Rock, pop, 80s, Prog styles that many of us have heard about before the album's release. But still, the overall feel of the album is eerie, dark, emotional and melodic. Sometimes I felt like I was listening to old Genesis, Kansas or Marillion. The two instrumentals were fantastic and really showed the talent of the band. I was truly blown away buy this album and thought that it was a musical masterpiece. As an older music fan, I sometimes felt like I was listening to something from the late 70s or early 80s. I'm sorry for those people who said that this album sounds like REO Speedwagon with satanic lite, or that Ghost sold out and now sounds like a boy band or a pop group. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I guess those poor souls never noticed all of the progressive rock and pop elements of ghosts former albums. I guess this is where all of the fan boys who like to pigeonhole a band into one certain sound will fall away, angrily gripping their pacifiers. They'll take to their keyboards and write about how much this album sucks. I guess they were not perceptive enough to hear when Tobias Forge said that every ghost album would be different and that the band will cover different territories on different albums. Ghost is not a pigeon holers band... it's time to face that fact or get off of the bandwagon, no pun intended. But for the rest of us who love good music, this band is a dream come true. I'm sure we all may be disappointed by an album now and then, but with ghost, it's only one album. The next one will be different. and so far, they have not disappointed, at least not me. This album may not be heavy sounding, but it is musically superb. I was literally stunned. I highly recommend it to the mature music lover who has graduated from the crib of fan boyism.

For those stuck in the rut types who claim there is no good "new" rock after the day they've passed thirty, among lots of other bands that make liars out of them, like Mastodon, Clutch, Baroness, or Orange Goblin, Ghost too destroy any argument that bands that came into being after "Appetite For Destruction" aren't great. The fourth full length album "Prequelle" musically follows the familiar Ghost formula: insanely catchy hooks, great guitar, and Tobias Forge's smooth vocals. But as the debut "Opus Eponymous" was a bit more raw, but still polished as far as Ghost is concerned, each subsequent release has allowed more depth and variety into the mix. Sonically, "Prequelle" could have been part of a double album paired with "Meloria" as far as I'm concerned. Where "Meloria" had a slightly lighter feel, this album does return a bit to darker themes. The music is still more full of hooks than a bait shop, and even sports three instrumental tracks that help segue between others. Forge is truly a very brilliant and gifted songwriter and singer. His choice of imagery has served him well, and only truly dense people would recognize this for anything more than a gimmick in the tradition of Alice Cooper. No single track stands out, as this album has a consistent flow to it. The musicianship is dazzling, and Forge wisely as always, stays this side of any progressive forays, opting instead for compact songs that pack enormous musical punches. Will this be the huge breakthrough that makes Ghost a giant among bands? It very well could. Another nice thing is that if Forge's sense of strong melody is influential enough, maybe other bands will take notice and in the world of heavy music dare to implement a bit more melody into their own music, sometimes something that is sorely needed amidst the blast beats, shrieks, grunts and bombast that accompany the lesser death or black metal bands, and especially deathcore. "Prequelle" is a must for all Ghost fans.

Leaving 5 stars but really it was a 4.5. Maybe even a 4. To me This album lacks a really massivelyawesome song on the level of Ritual, Square Hammer, Cirice, Guleh, he is, or even monstrance clock or Absolution. The feel of the whole album is very retro and has a more emo/gloomy feel to it, but in a good way. Rats, the first real track is eh... the song is solid but the backing vocals that go ohhhwoooaaah after RATS! is annoying as f*** and ruins the song Faith, is the heaviest track on the album but lacks substance. The chorus though is alright, good solo. See the light is a diss track for his old band hidden not so subtlety in a song simular to body and blood. The diss aspects detract from the album.... it was on the nose enough when they made the live action videos on YouTube where they basically say the nameless ghouls killed the papas but the diss tracks are a step too far. Masima is an instrumental and pretty good. Dance Macabre is a solid 80s sounding song probably the cachiest on the album Pro memoria is good but the lyrical delivery is overly campy and singsongy. Which image, solid all around Helvetesfonester is pure filler Life Eternal is by far my favorite song from Ghost now. While I can't be sure, it feels to me as though they're telling a very emotional story of an immortal and her loss of a mortal soul mate... that soul mate whom the immortal is fully capable of saving but won't because he won't accept the gift of imortality. They dance one final time as his hands grow cold and the light leaves his eyes. She is left calling his name, alone for eternity without him. This ends the album with the words if you had life eternal as the choir chants Forever. Forever. Forever. Solid 8-9/10 overall

Not sure why there are "some" who think this album is "wimpy" and "not metal", but Ghost has never been metal....ever. Even on their darkest album, Infestissumam, they are at most hard rock. Opus was a rather raw, somewhat lacking album as far as the sound is concerned, but the elements that would become Ghost were all over that album. Infestissumam, on the other hand, is a fantastic album (my favorite until Prequelle), and really showed what Ghost were all about. The songs are classic Ghost, with eerie lyrics and rockin' riffs, and a production much tighter and well done compared to Opus. Then along came Meliora and Ghost once again showed just how good they can be. Though, IMO, not quite as good as Infestissumam, Meliora none-the-less is one of the best albums of 2015, and launched Ghost into the stratosphere. Now, 3 years later we get what I consider Ghost's best album yet! Prequelle is an amazing piece of work, not limited by predetermined notions of what a "rock album" should be. With 2 outstanding instrumentals(Miasma and Helvetesfonster) and 8 magnificent vocal songs, the whole package is tied together as one big theme, not just random songs thrown on an album and then given some title. This hearkens back to classic ProgRock albums from Yes and Genesis that were songs based on a theme that all tie together in one nice package! THAT is what makes Prequelle so incredible. Prequelle is a total experience, not simply single songs that one listens to.....you go on a journey with Ghost through the story of Prequelle and when it's over, you want to do it again. So far I have listened to the whole album 7 times and just can't wait to listen to it again! I am completely blown away, and this is by far the best from Ghost and I can only imagine what they will do next! WOW!!!!!!

Ghost is one of my favorite bands, they are probably my fourth favorite band after Testament, Iron Maiden, and The Black Dahlia Murder. When I first heard the singles "Rats" and "Dance Macabre", I was very worried that this album would be a poppy album for the lowest common denominator. I initially didn't care for them very much but after hearing them multiple times in the context of the album, I grew to love them. My favorite tracks on the album are "Faith", "Witch Image" and the closer "Life Eternal". All of the songs are high quality. My only gripe with the album is the song "Pro Memoria". The song itself is good but the chorus lyrics leave a lot to be desired. After my first listen of the album, I thought it was good but probably my least favorite album from the band. I have listened to it many times now and I love it. I relistened to all of their albums so that I could judge it. Prior to listening to all of their albums again, I thought my ranking would be as follows: 1. Opus Eponymous 2. Infestissumam 3. Meliora 4. Prequelle. Basically each newer album being of less quality than the previous album. After listening to all of the albums I came to the conclusion that I actually like Prequelle more than Meliora and Infestissumam. My new ranking is 1. Opus Eponymous 2. Prequelle 3. Infestissumam and 4. Prequelle. I am amazed that the band has maintained this consistency so far. I love all of Ghosts albums. Their first album is perfect and will never be surpassed but each of their following albums have still earned above a 90% for me. If you don't like Prequelle on first listen, give it five more. It may surprise you and become your favorite Ghost album.

My review for the new Ghost record: (Song by song) Ashes- Creepy intro track really showing the big picture of the entire album;The Black Plague. Towards the end the instrumental really gives the feel of impending doom, and almost a sense of suspense in my opinion. The music really ties together with the next track Rats, as the riff is similar. Rats- A good beginning track, also painting a picture of the main theme. The song has multiple meanings depending on how you look at it, but looking at it in a technical point of view, it is about the Plague and how it all began. The song is really the beginning of a downward spiral to the ultimate fate of death. Faith- This song is continuing the heavier feel of the first couple of tracks, having a heavier riff and stronger lyrics. It has an older Ghost feel. This song also continues the storyline by expressing the spread of the plague. See The Light- A very out of place song, and does not fit the storyline of the album in my eyes. Compared to the rest of the album, it is mediocre, but is very well still worth a listen. The song is absolutely not bad in any way, but it feels very out of place. It brings on a calmer side of the album. Some have said that this song is about the lawsuit between Tobias and the former Nameless Ghouls, but that’s up to the listener to find out themselves. Miasma- A very incredible instrumental track, this song really shows the virtuoso the new ghouls have. Everyone has a solo, really showing off their talent. At the end there is a very pleasing saxophone solo, but before that, I don’t know if it’s an Easter egg, a tribute, or a mistake, but if you listen to the riff right before the sax solo, you will notice that it’s the same riff as Michael Jackson’s Beat It. This track, looking at the bigger picture, is to me a filler for the rest of the storyline, like we have the beginning of the Plague, and the start of the disease, and Miasma is a gap of time before the victim reaches acceptance of death. Dance Macabre- Another out of place song in my eyes, but a good one. The song brings on a very different side of Ghost, one that really portrays the character of late Papa III and Cardinal Copia. Song doesn’t fit the storyline that well in my point of view, but that’s a matter of opinion, but this is after my first listen to the entire album, so my opinion may change. The song feels like 80’s pop, and that’s a love hate relationship for me. Pro Memoria- This is my absolute favorite track on the entire album. Going by the storyline, this song expresses acceptance of your fate. After catching and spreading the disease, and spending a little time thinking, you finally accept what is going to happen to you. The orchestration of this song is absolutely beautiful, and is profoundly powerful. This song really makes you think, and brings a peace to your fears. From the moment I heard this song in the Chapter III video I knew I would love it, and seeing it played live really made me look forward to hearing it. Witch Image- To me, this song is the bringing of death, and the realization that you have done wrong in your life. This song shows the fears we will experience when we are close to death. This song expresses the sin and evil everyone experiences throughout life, and the punishment that awaits them. Helvetesfönster- This word translates to “Hells Window”. The meaning of hells window is an opening in a woman’s clothing that showed sideboob, and it was considered a sin to look at it back then. This song is an instrumental that is similar to Witch Image in terms of meaning. There is no lyrics, but the music gives the feel that death has finally come, and your fate has ultimately been sealed. Life Eternal- The song is the aftermath of Helvetesfönster, which is after death. This is your perspective after you pass away. You are looking into life after death, and where you will spend eternity. You experience the first moment of peace you’ve had. This song wraps up the album perfectly, by tying everything together. Rats being the retraction and spread of the disease, Pro Memoria expressing your acceptance to death, Witch Image being your reflection on your life, and Helvetesfönster being your death. A very peaceful ending. Bonus Tracks (Its A Sin, Avalanche)- Both tracks are great, both being covers. Neither one contributes to the storyline that I’ve noticed as of now. Overview- To me, this record is amazing, it gets a lot of hate, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don’t get it. I love Ghost’s symbolism and the storyline of the album. I really enjoy the musical ability of the band and the incredible orchestration of the songs. Aside from the songs contributions to the storyline, they all can have alternate meanings depending on how you look at it. Bravo to Tobias and the Nameless Ghouls for writing, recording, and performing such an incredible album. It isn’t the same Ghost we’ve heard before, but I like it. Some say the album gets weaker as it goes on, but I appreciate how it is put together because it really shows the timeline that someone experienced during the Black Plague. It feels very right to me except for the few outliers. I started writing this on the 8th track of the album the first time I listened to it, and I’m going on the 4th time I’ve listened to the album all the way through. I waited for it, and it was worth it. Ghost should be very proud of their art, because I, and many others have waited for it and are enjoying it as we speak. These are my first impressions, and my current opinion, I may look back on this review a year from now and have different thoughts, but this is what it is now. This album is incredible, buy it and support Ghost, buy merch. The fans need to help them carry on their legacy, and support them in their rise to the big time.

Rats and Danse Macabre are the gems on this one, and they're the most melodic, but its a good album through and through. But I recommend getting the one listed as "deluxe" it has a cool hologram cover and is in a jewel case, I accidentally got this one and its digipak and missing a track I think. The artwork still pops hologram or not but Ghost is the Kiss of this century, so part of it is the music, the other part is the collectible part since they're a gimmick band. I don't mean that in a bad way, its just been eons since a band has pulled off the theatrics and costumes like Kiss,. All those black metal guys do that war paint thing but their music sucks... Ghost actually kicks ass...

In reality, this is 4.5 star album as I'd take a half-star off for being a tad short and I agree with others that it could've used one more "metal" tune. But this is great release as "Rats" and "Dance Macabre" are the super catchy singles and the instrumentals are very well-written (one has Mikael Akerfeldt on acoustic guitars). The only song I'm not thrilled with (yet) is the closer, "Life Eternal". A lot of folks are complaining about this being too poppy and it is a tad lighter than previous stuff, but it's still a great album. These guys are filling a void in this 43-year-old metal madman's discography. I'm a lover of 70's rock like Van Halen, Rush, Aerosmith, prog, the British holy triumvirate (Sabbath, Priest, Maiden), Mercyful Fate, the thrash crews, contemporary stuff like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Gojira, Meshuggah, Karnivool, Animals As Leaders, Haken, Leprous among others. OK, enough name dropping, I apologize. The point is I have enough metal in my life, Ghost is just plain fun and super catchy. PS. Get the Deluxe Edition for the faithful cover of "It's a Sin" by the Pet Shop Boys and the cover of Leonard Cohen's super creepy "Avalanche".

La obra musical en si es de 5 estrellas, uno de los mejores trabajos de Ghost junto a Impera, para mi gusto. Lo negativo viene con el envoltorio, en que estaban pensando? Hay cd de esos que regalaban en las revistas o en los kioskos, que tienen mucha mas gracia y calidad que este, un troquelado pobre, con las letras de todos los temas impresos en letra gotica alemana a un tamaño ilegible incluso para alguien con buena vista. En fin, prequelle es una gran albumy, de eso no cabe duda, cale mucho la pena, pero la caja del cd es penosa.

Great album. The best they ever done in my opinion

Voor de derde keer dit album gekocht. 2x eerder krassen op dezelfde plek. En je raadt het niet. 3e keer ook krassen! Op dezelfde plek. Deze hele serie platen is verpest. Toch verkopen ze hem.

Again, and as always, you can't go wrong. Ghost has a perfection in catchy tunes with attitude. It will make even people who do not like metal nod their heads

Another great album from ghost. Sounds great!