Tony The Hero has been creating 8-Bit instrumental versions of rock and metal songs for his YouTube channel for a while now, his best seeming to be songs from the band Ghost. Check out the 8-Bit version of ‘Square Hammer’ from the Popestar EP (Loma Vista) below:Continue reading
Occult rockers Ghost are continuing on their Popestar tour of the USA. They recently held back to back sold out shows at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. You can watch a pro-shot, multi-camera video of their recent single ‘Square Hammer’ below: Continue reading
Occult rock stars Ghost kicked off their current “Popestar US Tour” at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium in Riverside, California on Monday night. You can now watch fan-filmed video of the songs ‘Square Hammer’ and ‘Mummy Dust’ from that show below:Continue reading
Ghost have released another new teaser clip entitled The Summoning VI: The Proceedings Intensify in the wake of the release of their new Popestar EP which debuted at the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums. The release is also the first EP to top the Top Rock Albums chart in its 10:year history. You can watch the teaser below: Continue reading
Back when Swedish occult rockers Ghost were just hitting their stride of popularity, Ghost Cult was fortunate enough to interview a Nameless Ghoul. At the time, they dropped an exclusive bit of news on us, that they had the plan for their entire next five years of releases pretty set in stone. Continue reading
Celebration is a word that conjures a lot to your mind when you hear it or read it. On Marco Minnemann’s (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson, LMR) new solo album Celebration (Lazy Bones Recordings), it is Marco clearly doing the celebrating. Not only are these 17 tracks (plus one bonus cut) a great example of Marco’s world-class drumming talents, he plays all of the instruments, provides vocals, co-produced the album, and even mixed and mastered some of it too. The music is also a great reason to get amped, as it displays the many shades of his taste in music, and has something for fans of his entire body of work from his career.
Thirty seconds into the lead track ‘Miami’, and immediately you can tell this album is going to be a next level effort. Crushing guitar riffs, spastic drums, soaring melodies, this is not too far from his work with Levin/Minnemann/Rudess. There is also some funky, odd free Jazz moments that sneak in here and there; be it an odd horn vamp or dramatic Rhodes piano flourish. The title-track is next and is a straight up heavy rock song, with tripped out lyrics and a vocals from Marco. He has sung lead before, but really finds his voice on this album. Continuing the heaviness, ‘It Always Seems’ at least has DNA essence in the monster riffs in common with a few early Helmet songs, before veering into a breezy alt-rock chorus. Marco has no issues going chameleon from one movement to the next, picking up whatever mood inspires him.
Tracks such as ‘How Can I Help You’ and ‘Print Club’ are more of the angular, frenetic prog rock one expects from Marco, but there are some astounding departures stylistically too. ‘The Greatest Gift in Life’ is a lovely pure pop song that would be a big radio hit if given the chance. ‘Everyone Loves A Rainbow’ is a somber piano piece that comes two versions, each with English or Spanish spoken word piece over it. Meanwhile ‘Amina’s Birthday’ is another Jazzy, epic track. ‘Better Place’ puts the exclamation point on the release with more heavy licks and smashing beats.
Turning in the heaviest, yet most diverse album of his career, it’s great to hear what one of the hardest working guys in music will come up with next.
Marco Minnemann, photo courtesy of Lazy Bones Recordings
8.5/10
KEITH CHACHKES