Paul Feldman by

I originally intended for this to be a review of the Swedish metal band Ghost’s October 26 Ritual at the Mayan Theater here in Los Angeles. (Ghost does not perform concerts, they perform Rituals). But, seeing as I entered the venue ready to be lifted on a cloud of infernal delight (and I was), I don’t think I have the unbiased mind necessary for a valid review. So with your indulgence, I’ll take up your coffee break and bandwidth with some Metal Nerd Pontification:

I discovered Ghost after seeing their album artwork on the Facebook.

My social media feeds are saturated with videos, clips, tour dates, album covers and other ephemera from tons of bands. But why did this one grab me so? Who was that undead priest looming over the Cathedral? Wasn’t that a riff on the poster from Salem’s Lot?

More important: What did these guys sound like? In short order, I found this clip.

In that moment, I crossed the Demonic Event Horizon: No turning back. Ghost was the Jerry MaGuire to my Renée Zellweger: They had me at Hell.

Why? Because, for lack of a better phrase, Ghost hits all the notes. Their music is epic, intricate and demonstrates a great deal of technical prowess, yet it remains soulful and full of heart. I put them right up there with Queen. They’re not afraid to experiment, to get weird and bring in styles and instrumentations not usually found in Rock, let alone Metal. Lyrically they make the D&D nerd in me happy with their arcane, accurate references to the traditions of Black Magic and the Biblical mythology around Lucifer and the Antichrist. And their live shows, their rituals, are beyond being only performances. They’re Satanic Spectacles of Fun. It’s what Rock N’ Roll, which is the Devil’s Music after all, was invented for. Just ask Robert Johnson, once he shakes that Hellhound on his trail.

The Ritual at the Mayan was the second time I’d seen Ghost perform. They played for about an hour and half, and it felt way too short.

If you’ve ever been so taken by a piece of art that you just stand there in the museum gawking at it, the museum guard interrupting your reverie because your nose is almost touching the canvas, and you’re so enraptured with the piece that you can’t even see it anymore… that’s what the show was like for me. I studied for that show, making mental notes of whatever musical details and flourishes I wanted to catch live… and of course I simply ended up singing along with every song, a man of nearly 39 years of age, my arm in the air, throwing the metal horns. The truth is, I was completely blown away, and I remember few details. I really do think I overloaded my nerd circuits and lost some memory.

I should also add that Ghost has a unique fanbase. They’re just as rabid and immersed in the lore of what they love as any Trekkie, Whovian or Star Wars fan I’ve met. Sometimes there’s cosplay at rituals (though sadly I didn’t spot any at the Mayan). There’s tons of fan-created artwork in all sorts of mediums online, and, what I find coolest of all, a general classiness and consideration of others. From the two shows (ahem, rituals) I’ve attended and the rather embarrassing amount of fan-shot video on YouTube I’ve watched, nobody moshes at Ghost shows. No fights. No violence. There’s no dumb macho asshole yanking and throwing you around after you finally found a great spot to watch from. Everyone genuinely seems to be there to enjoy the music, and to allow each other to enjoy the music. It’s a strangely warm-hearted vibe for a Satanic Ritual. (Perhaps Lucifer isn’t the villain we’ve been led to think He is…)

As theatrical and over-the-top as they may be, Ghost is authentic… and they’re being authentic while wearing masks. They succeeded in creating that most rare and precious commodity: Kick ass Rock N Roll that (I risk hubris quoting myself) makes your heart and soul cry out “Yes! THAT.”

So why does any of this matter, especially to people who don’t dig Ghost?

Because Ghost’s success is a real life, flesh and blood example of the rewards of being boldly authentic.

So whatever it is I, you or anyone else really want to express, or what we really want to see in our lives, not just what we’re willing to settle for: That is the absolute best thing we can put out into the world, be it a creative work or just the way we live. It doesn’t matter if everyone doesn’t get us. The right people will get us, connect with us and help us move forward. To me, that is the definition of success.

The next time someone scoffs at your words, thoughts, ambitions or dreams, never forget that an Anonymous Satanic Heavy Metal Band from Sweden played the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMWeIRX-ZHE

We are all magicians and anything is possible.