Satan must be so proud as one of his many children in heavy metal become a commercial success story, crossing over from the underground to the mainstream (landing at #28 on the Billboard 200 chart), spreading the gospel according to Hell. I discovered these guys (or as they are referred to, ghouls) as a download through Metal Blade Records when the debut "Opus Eponymous" first became available to press before the buzz and hype. Of course intrigued by the name and horror movie style artwork, their music though was refreshing, not typical of the genre, less aggressive, more melodic and tuneful, with good production, yet still haunting.

“Infestissumam” (according to Wikipedia: Latin for hostile, used by the band as "the most hostile" or "the biggest threat" in reference to the Antichrist), sees Ghost sticking to the retro 70s sound and style of the debut with influences from early Mercyful Fate (less noticeable here) and Blue Oyster Cult as a framework, while incorporating a few more Beatles (‘Jigolo Har Megiddo’) and hippy-trippy (‘Ghuleh / Zombie Queen’, ‘Idolatrine’) influences from the 60s. Semi–instrumental title track opens the album with an (evil) church choir segueing into ‘Per Aspera Ad Inferi’ (which means “Through hardship to hell”), Sabbathy riffs and minimalistic drums drive the energy with a organ behind the chorus. Scary clowns and the circus are what came to mind when hearing those keyboards in first single ‘Secular Haze’. ‘Year Zero’ praises the dark lord with his name (and surnames) in the opening and repeated in the chorus complete with ghostly vocals and complimenting pleasing keyboards, while ‘Body and Blood’ has a nursery rhyme feel to its chorus. "Depth of Satan's Eyes" moves between complimenting different drum beats and riffs for the verse and chorus, kind of proggy and psychedelic, an interesting musical movement. Like a dark serenade for the black mass. Album closer ‘Monstrous Clock’ is eerily begun by the words “To the sound of the monstrous clock, air is cleansed, assembled flock, black candles burn, all minds aligned, as the parish sighs in smoke”. Get the point, right?

Deluxe edition of the album includes bonus tracks ‘La Mantra Mori’ and a cover of Abba's ‘I'm a Marionette’ which features Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters on drums.

A unique, interesting, different band important for the present and future of hard rock/heavy metal music that should be known for their music and creative artistic direction equally, seen as such regardless of your religious beliefs, bypassing reasons of hype or popularity.

Just concerning longevity, not sure how long this retro sound and style can last. They may have to find a way to reinvent themselves while retaining some elements Ghost are known for. But then again, in image and content (not musically), it worked for Mercyful Fate and King Diamond for over 30 years. Time will tell.