New interview with Papa III, translated through google translate

While Gojira made its debut on the first day of the Download Festival in Paris, we head to the dressing rooms to meet Papa Emeritus III, before the concert that will give Ghost in the evening, after Iron Maiden. After a brief wait alongside a Scott Ian slumped in a hammock in complete relaxation, it was with surprise that we find ourselves facing a Papa Emeritus III unmasked, in civilian clothes, wearing a black biker covered in all groups of badges genres. Of course, in these circumstances, no photo, but a detailed and interesting exchange.





Hello, and thank you to spend some time with me before the concert tonight! Let’s start by evoking the latest news: the group released a teaser for a documentary, what can we expect from this new format?



Papa Emeritus III: I would say, for short, as we are a different group of others, we can not make this documentary conventionally, filming things on the fly. By cons, in the same way as all the other groups, if we can turn our concerts and perform in the best way, thanks to our technical team. So we said “why not just make a documentary about our team?”. This way, people will still have an overview of the life of the group, without it does not focus on us …



Not to break the mysteries surrounding the group?



P: Yes. It is not to reveal our secrets, not too much anyway. But you can see things from a new angle, and as a fan, I love seeing this stuff! It replaces a fine documentary turned to the group itself, I think.



Ghost also announced a new EP, to be released by year’s end. Is it already registered, and what can we expect? Reversals, new compositions?



P: Some times, and a few new songs, yes. Everything is already registered.



But you can not tell us more?



P: Everything will be announced very soon. There is not much to say now. Except that it will really start the second chapter of our tour.







The output cycle alternating an album and an EP, it will become a constant?



P: I do not want to implement this as a rule. We had just wanted the time before the next album to be longer. Especially because, from my point of view, our current graphic universe is very interesting, and can even extend it. So instead of writing a Meliora 2, we chose to leave it. An EP that continues the album. I do not know if the idea is good, we’ll see.



It joined a little my next question. With Meliora, themes related to church and evil rites was slightly indented. Ghost has instead exploited visual themes of the 20s, as well as many films as King Kong, Rosemary’s Baby, or Metropolis … The goal is to propose a radically different visual theme for each album?



P: To be honest, I have no clear vision of what we will then, out of this EP. I do not know what direction it will take. Of course, we will always turn around sacred themes. For example, our scene is still supposed to represent a church, chapel, or any sacred place. so I would say that even if Meliora and its extension are a little more secular and desecrated with the most modern and urban theme, I want to return to these issues in the future. This Christian and almost medieval side. We will probably make round trips to and from this theme over the album.



On the production Meliora I would say that the sound is less crude and dirty as debut of the group. The mix is ​​more polished, more orchestral: it is an evolution that you would like to see continue, or round trips are also to be expected?



P: I do not know. I am so tempted by a more progressive direction less progressive. I would love to develop the progressive elements that we inserted in Meliora …



A concept album perhaps?



P: Our albums are already quite conceptual. But they are not a story. And it’s true that I would be interested in writing more conceptual history. This would not necessarily rock, perhaps something more orchestral.



An opera ?



P: Something like that, yes. But I also like the idea of ​​a return to dance sound, but full of simplicity. A bit like our first record. In short, there is really the ability to write three different types of album: a very progressive drive, a more orchestral opus moving away from the rock, or a pure rock album.



Vocally, there is the added saturated singing on live versions of “Absolution”. It is a technique that might be found on a new album?



P: It’s possible [laughs]. It is not so far away. I am now writing the next album. But vocally, it has not worked too. We still do not know who will be the new Dad. We will see what we will do when it appears.







This weekend, Ghost play Download Festival, which has headliners like Iron Maiden and Rammstein, we know especially for their huge stage production with pyrotechnics and many effects. I can well imagine what you could do with such means: it’s one of your goals?



P: Exactly. That’s our goal. This is what tends towards what the cycle which will start with the new EP. For example, what we will do at Hellfest will be a sort of preview of the show we will propose in the autumn.



As a dress rehearsal?



P: A little, yes! It’s difficult to get any good when it comes to developing a single concert like that, especially in a festival. To be honest, we have always wanted to use pyrotechnics. For us it is all or nothing: either you used to, or you do not used. And we always found it best to continue as long without, to make it big when you cross the no. And make something tasty. If you take Rammstein, their show is hugely based on it, the fire in all directions, that is their thing. But there are some groups that have a horrible use of pyrotechnics, which balance the effects in all directions without stopping, and without real purpose. This is not reflected, it is nothing … It should be an addition, something that highlights a section of a song, or a move you make. I believe that with our new stage, we will unveil in part at Hellfest, and completely in the fall, we will be able to explore this pyrotechnic appearance. We will also be able to have a different set, play songs we’ve never played before, and move to the next level. Getting back to your question: yes, the long-term goal is to be up there with Maiden and Rammstein, to become the group that everyone wants to see.



Ghost seems to have created a real bridge between the metal scene and the audience more mainstream: the group is aware of? And how do you explain that?



P: I think if we can zig-zaguer this way between generalists Eurockéennes festivals like the Rock en Seine and metal events such as Hellfest, it is partly thanks to our image. We used a long time, we had the Pukkelpop example, if you know? The reason why we have this image, it is our love for the shock rock, but there is one other positive consequences … People who are not metalheads - people without belts balls, wholesale - naturally tend to reject groups that have this look, and we did not look it. People listen to the groups to which they can relate to, that’s why there are so many fans that look like their idols … and there’s nothing wrong with that! The advantage of this is that, from a commercial point of view, and we discovered over time is that metal does not follow this tradition, it does not refer to a culture particular, a sartorial point of view, and it does not create a barrier to the public. If we had long beards, tattoos, or swastikas on the head, we necessarily attract people who are like us.



Thank you for your time. Have you a few last words for the French fans of Ghost?



P: Thank you very much for your support, we are really happy to come here to play so often!

