Ghost Albums Ranked / New Song Review | Nate Garrett's Big Riff Energy Episode 70 

I find it startling how much Ghost is hated on by metalheads these days. I understand not liking their more pop focused output but that first album is still incredible and is definitely metal.

Ghost is going to have one of the best “Best Of Ghost” albums one of these years. Each album has 2 or 3 bangers on it that will stand the test of time.

Vexing Hex, that's the band to check out if you like ghost...

Agree on the comparison with AC's Poison, TF is definitely a student of songwriting and has learned from Desmond Child. Some other favorite songwriting from Ghost are Rats and Pinnacle to the Pit. Will be interested to hear your thoughts on the new movie. I thought it was great as a pure concert film...TF should be commended for his ambition and effort to always push this band to the next level.

Queensryche Empire always stands out for its production to me

Impera is amazing my favourite ghost album

I'll try Ghost again now with your guidance, didn't really grab me the first time. Cheers Nate!

Infestissumam is mostly amazing. Side one is absolutely perfect..incredible. Side two is great but has a few tunes I'm not super crazy about: Idolatrine and Depth of Satan's Eyes. Otherwise it's a banger. Love the vibe actually.

Favorite Occult/Psych Noir & the Mystery of Jex Thoth I agree with your overall rankings and disappointment with Impera. I first saw Ghost with Blood Ceremony in Chicago in 2012, and the audience was vibrating with anticipation. That's where I first learned of the connection with Repugnant, who I went back to listen to. I wonder if the Ghost mystique elevated Repugnant's esteem? Either way, they're pretty good. A friend of mine LURVES Ghost, so I saw them live three more times. I probably wouldn't have if it weren't for him, because I'm not a super fan. I wrote a piece in 2015 called "Kaleidoscopes & Grimoires: Psych Noir" that includes Ghost, along with occult psych pioneers Jex Thoth, The Devil's Blood, Blood Ceremony and Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, who I listen to much more than Ghost. Here's some psych noir recommendations fans of early Ghost might like. For brevity I just included one album per artist, but most have more. I know you're familiar with nearly all of them -- which are your favorites in addition to Roky and Uncle Acid? Also, there's a bit of a mystery with Jex Thoth. The last time I saw them in 2014, Jessica (Jex) said they were working on a new album and it would be out by the end of the year. No third album came, and I haven't been able to find a single clue as to what happened to them. Have you heard anything? 1. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Blood Lust (Rise Above, 2011) 2. Large Plants - The Thorn (Ghost Box, 2023) 3. Rosalie Cunningham - Rosalie Cunningham (Esoteric Antenna, 2019) 4. Purson - Desire's Magic Theatre (Spinefarm, 2016) 5. Blood Ceremony - The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above, 2023) 6. Molassess - Through The Hollow (Season Of Mist, 2020) 7. Lola Colt - Twist Through The Fire (Black Tigress, 2016) 8. Jess and the Ancient Ones - Jess and the Ancient Ones (Svart, 2012) 9. Roky Erickson And The Aliens - The Evil One (415/Light In The Attic, 1981) 10. The Sea Kings - Woke In The Devil's Arms (Iffy Folk, 2014) 12. Jex Thoth - Blood Moon Rise (I Hate Records, 2013) 13. The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre (Van/Profound Lore, 2011) Bubblin' under: Lucifer, Mansion, Lucid Sins, Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows, Messa, Vitskär Süden, Serpent Venom, The Black Angels, Blood Farmers, Rosegarden Funeral Party, The Oath, The Exploding Eyes Orchestra, Lord Buffalo, The Janitors, Avatarium, Dead Skeletons.

Good video. Appreciate the recommendations! Big fan of Alice Cooper so I’m familiar with Trash but I’ll definitely check those other bands out. I’m a huge Ghost fan. They’re one of my all time favourite bands. I’ve loved all of their albums and I like that they all have their own unique vibe. I don’t understand or agree at all with your critique of Impera (particularly the lyrics). The lyrics aren’t “stupid” at all (except for maybe Twenties but even then I’d argue it’s part of the point of the concept of the song/album). To me that album lyrically is the most conceptual and intricate thing Tobias has written so far. If anything, I think the “dumbest” album lyrically is Opus Eponymous. I love Opus to death but, come on, it’s basically just about devil worship for the most part. The more recent albums have way more depth lyrically while still being “satanic” in a more subtle and clever way. I’m also glad that you moved Meiora and Prequelle into A Tier because there is no universe where Popestar is better than those 2 killer records 😜. But hey, opinions and shit. Totally agree on October Rust btw 🤘 and Mob Rules and Blackwater Park. You got good taste in production!

Another Ghost / Cooper parallel; Hunter's Moon / Man Behind the Mask. The Goners - Good Mourning from 2020 is like a garage rock version of Ghost.

I feel like "Meliora" was the album where they quit being a "band" so to speak. I can't say for certain obviously, but that might have been the last album that carried over members from the two previous records. "Prequelle" is where it really became apparent to me that this is the Tobias Forge show and he was really the sole member. I'm also a big cinephile so I do love Roman Polanski and I love "Rosemary's Baby", but for me "Chinatown" is his real masterpiece.

Great call on "Endless Skies". One of my all-time favorite albums!

I actually preferred Wytch Hazel’s previous album (Pentecost) quite a bit more to the one mentioned in this video.

I’m glad you mentioned the song bible I hadn’t heard it before and am glad I checked it out. I didn’t love impera or phantomine but they had moments. Little sunshine and watcher in the skies were good and see no evil is a great cover

Another great video Nate. To me, BOC’s Fire of Unknown Origin and Revolution By Night are Ghost albums before Ghost ever existed. The song Vengeance (The Pact) is reeking of pure Ghost goodness. Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check out Ashbury and Witch Hazel today.

tobias' imperfections are a flex as much as your abilities to notice those things. love it & love you "Mr. Garrett" ! #BIGRIFFLIFER - ry in munichGer

Hey 👋 just wanted to say I checked that Ashbury record out and loved it. Just scooped the last one off of Amazon UK. Can’t thank you enough bud! 🤘

Man, you really nailed it with Poison. That is Ghost if I've ever heard them.

The first time i heard of S tiers was from Sega's Phantasy Star Online on Dreamcast

My wife and I listenedd to their debut and Infestissumam back-to-back while driving from Santa Fe to Las Cruces in 2013. I think Infestissumam had only just come out. Driving through the desert listening to Ghost. Good times. Got to get back to New Mexico.

Square Hammer is an absolute monster of a song. I consider it one of the best songs ever as well... I've tried to get a few people into Ghost through Square Hammer and they all complain that their other songs aren't as good, hahah I could never get into Impera. I thought seeing some of those songs live might convert me but most of them still don't do much for me. also, maybe it was just my show but their fanbase got super super young as they blew up. I'm in my late 30s and felt old as fuck being there, more so than any show I can remember.

To be honest , I’ve only heard the first one since I was very happy with what Rise Above was doing at the time and I still like this album today , it didn’t blown me away or anything , but it was a solid first record with a very good production . I still don’t get all the negativity that came after towards the band , it is bizarre, but not surprising at the same time since we are talking about “The metal community” here.

I've always wondered what you thought about Mastodon. Would love to see a ranking of their music too.

I soon as i heard Impera i said that the album would win many awards cause its a really good rock album. But its the last Album i go to,, to listen to Ghost. Give me OPUS all day long mixed with year Zero, Witch Image, Absolution, and rats....

I've got a friend with "virgin ears" and he just got into Ghost this year after hearing "Square Hammer" on his own. I've pushed him to like this band for awhile but he didn't get it or couldn't connect with it til now. And even now that he loves them, mainly "Square Hammer" and tracks off of "Impera", he won't go back and listen to every record from the beginning. This frustrates me and baffles me because as a fan with any band or metal in general, I treat it as if I'm a historian, I like to go back and hear the influences of modern bands. I like to know where it all comes from and be educated on the stuff I love.

We have a different ranking lol. Ghost's second album got me hooked. I heard the first album lots, but it never grabbed me, it was the song Year Zero that sold me. Love that song. Meloria is peak Ghost, but He Is became the first Ghost song I'd skip. I wasn't a fan of Prequelle. The album blows it's load to quick. After the 3rd song it just meanders along with too many instrumentals and low energy, low-mid tempo songs and ballads. Imperia was much better. It was better balanced with the heavier/faster tracks more evenly dispersed throughout, instead of having the heaviest tracks at the beginning like Prequelle.

repugnant doesn’t get enough recognition when tobias was in that band that was some supreme bad ass awesome perfect death metal you hear a little bit of mary goore come out during mummy dust

I have a solid recommend for you Nate. The band Spidergawd from Norway. Their name is not the best, but their latest record is really cool. Definitely on the AOR spectrum. Plus they have a saxophonist. Check that shit out!

Listen back to Respite on the Spitalfields without the baggage of the rest of Impera. I think it's the best song they've ever done.

I believe Coachella (if I'm spelling that right) was Ghost's U.S. debut, I wanna say, from when I first heard about them. Never fact checked it, though,. Blew my mind. Every metal fan I knew dug it. Though we all referred to the style as "satanic Beatles". It's so wild that you mention the new song reminding you of the first album. I just discovered the song before seeing what new videos were up on RU-vid, and had the very same reaction. Would be really fucking cool, if he revisits that style with all that he's learned since.

Call me dumb, but listening to the first Ghost album gave me QOTSA vibes.

Ghost is a great gateway to metal ... after Ghost novice listeners can graduate to Maiden ... from there to Metallica, etc.

The first ghost record is special. An all time classic across all genres, and time periods of music. The rest of the discography is not for me personally. But it’s not because I’m that first album/demo KVLT metal guy. To prove it I recommend Subvision-“so far so noir” it sounds like the same musicians from the first ghost record to my ears. Ghost is not metal IMO. Subvision is straight up coffee shop indie rock. ru-vid.com/group/OLAK5uy_khgXe1pPTHsmt4mTfnA08nJAxaLLcOZYE&si=f-D80F7FLgSmAJ_v

I was with you till you got the prequel that is run over garbage with throw up on it