Platinum Awarded Engineer Reacts to Ghost - "Spillways"

The thing with Ghost is that it’s hard to take a single song and use that to define them; they are a theatrical rock band, with stylings from different eras on different albums, and I find it so satisfying to hear these elements. Translates very well to live performances.

I think you kinda have to "get" Ghost. They're super tongue-in-cheek. I've always thought the poppiness juxtaposed to the subject matter was the whole point.. the wolf in sheep's clothing. Being fed satanic verse without even knowing it. Like Satan himself would do. Love them.

You're disappointment is with your own expectations.

The piano used is the same one ABBA used on their records. Impera was recorded in their old studio in Stockholm and it was still there. Ghost is really a mix-up of all influencenses Tobias grew up with in the 80:s and 90:s. He isn't just a metalhead instead he loves everything from Toto to ABBA to Slayer and all in between. That's why some songs are heavier and some more pop. Very confused that you don't mention the key changes. They are the ones that really makes this song special.

Ghost is playing, they go back and forward in time mixing styles. From music 70's alike, to 80's 90' and so. Love that versatility

they have some hard core songs too. you can’t just listen to one song and say “how are they classified as a rock band?”

I love GHOST. Spillways is absolutely amazing.

Rock, metal, pop, I don't know man but I just seen them in concert at the Los Angeles (Kia) Forum last Tuesday and I'm pretty sure everyone in that sold out show was blown tf away! They rocked our collective ass clean off yo!!! Seriously badass live!

I get what you say... Some people call them 'ABBA Sabbath'! 😅 However you simply can't classify Ghost into a genre. They are classified as 'heavy metal' at music awards but I think that's because there isn't a genre that works otherwise. Spillways is one of their more poppy tunes, but speaking as an aging amateur rock guitarist myself (I've been playing since about 1975), I think it's beautifully constructed, in drop C with multiple key changes, and the lyrics are actually quite dark. (Tobias Forge's lyrics in general are very smart, often with layered meanings.) Within the generic rock area, they range widely from pop/rock (like this one, and other songs they have - if you hear the fabulous but very poppy Mary On A Cross, you'll probably spill your coffee!), to classic '80s arena-style rock (most of the excellent Impera album), to heavier, dark satanic stuff (mostly in their earlier material), even slightly proggy material (e.g. a couple of instrumentals on the 'Prequelle' album). Even the heavier stuff is delivered with clean vocals, and surprising melodies thrown in. So they do have much heavier songs, ('Cirice', 'Year Zero', 'Faith', 'From the Pinnacle to the Pit' etc.), still generally characterised by super-catchy hooks linked to great riffs. If you want growly metal vocals, you need to look elsewhere (except for maybe 'Mummy Dust', one exception). Indeed, elitist metal fans are often offended by the catchiness of even Ghost's heaviest songs. There really is no-one like them around right now (by 'them' I really mean Tobias). And despite the nostalgia embedded in the music itself (not the lyrics, which are clever and different) that actually makes them unique, and in my opinion brave, as this approach is certainly not 'current'.

The song "Dreamer" was by Supertramp, not R.E.O. Every Ghost song sounds different. You can't pigeonhole them into any one genre. They won a Grammy in 2016 for "Best Heavy Metal Song" with their song "Cirice" The lead singer's name is Tobias Forge.

This is one of their most pop songs. Very Def Leppard, they even got Joe Elliott to do a version with them. If you want something heavier, try Call Me Little Sunshine, From The Pinnacle To The Pit or Mummy Dust.

You really can't write them off as being just a poppy soft rock band when you only listen to one song. They have such a varied discography. It's like only listening to a song like Another one bites the dust and classifying them as a disco style band.

You can’t label ghost with one song from one album they sample all kinds of eras and sounds on every album, they have darker and more pop sounding songs, translates amazingly into live performances

As a ghost fan we all know it for a fact that the bands earlier sound was more on the heavier side but still had some pop sprinkled in. After the departure of Alpha & Omega the sound went a different way. Yes Tobias still sprinkles some heavy songs in the newer albums but even he said he's going for the more 80s sound

Try listening to Cirice, Call Me Little Sunshine and Year Zero. I personally like the 80's pop rock sound.

Yea this is definitely one of their more poppy sounding songs. They always sound different depending on the album. Listen to Elizabeth, Year Zero, Mummy Dust, completely different vibes...

The thing with ghost is that they sound like a different band with each song.. Some songs are more poppy, more happy, some are slower, some are more danceable, some are heavier, some and dark, some are lighter.. You can find a song for each emotion you are feeling.. For instance, I like to sing he is in the shower, I like to listen to kaiserion to get pumped up, I listen to I belive to make me sleepy.. So you can't just hear one song and categorize. They are an awesome band. Good music is good music. No shame in listening to something more poppy.. Enjoy Ghost!

I love these sorts of bands that are brave enough to embrace a multitude of rock, pop, classical and metal styles. Ghost and Lord of the Lost do it very well, and there's never a dull, predictable moment, like the rock, metal and boring guitar solo's of yesteryear. If I had to listen to one style, I'd find that incredibly dull. If a song is good, then that's what's important to me, not the genre.

I think it's nice how much we CAN'T categorize Ghost under just one 'heading' and in my opinion that's what makes them so good. they have a diversity to them that makes their music so interesting. I think we're in a time where it's difficult to 'invent the wheel' musically speaking, we should enjoy what comes from a good music of different influences

The whole idea is to have these hymns embedded in your brain. The way the ruler from down under intended. 😉