singemfrc 
Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 4407
Location: California
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 Posted: Thu May 11, 2023 5:32 pm Post subject: 5/11 DLC: Spell and GHOST!! |
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| Harmonix wrote: | Per the band Ghosts own mythology, the song Mary On A Cross dates back to 1969, when that eras version of the band fronted by a stage-commanding clergyman known as Papa Emeritus Nihil recorded the quasi-psychedelic pop/rock track. Cut to the 21st Century and Papa Nihils reappearance with Ghost, now billing himself as Papa Emeritus Zero, and Mary On A Cross was exhumed, remastered, and included on the 2019 single, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic. Pretty cool backstory, huh? Fascinating, to be sure, but (of course) not factual.
Whats equally interesting and, in this case, *true* is that a viral version of the 2019 track breathed new life into Mary On A Cross in the summer of 2022, making it now Ghosts most listened-to song (by far) with more than 320 million(!) streams on Spotify as of this writing.
Fans of Ghost know that front-man Tobias Forge (thats Papa Emeritus Zero to you) has proven, time and time again, that hes got a unique facility for partnering dark lyrical imagery with the hookiest melodies and Mary On A Cross is a prime example. Beginning with a slow drum-roll that segues into a bright and bouncy keyboard line supported by tasteful drum and bass, the song gathers full strength when, at the 18-second point, Forges clear-as-a-bell melodic vocals complete the picture. After a brief instrumental buildup, we get the first chorus at 1:21 and its instantly evident why this track has connected with so many listeners. Catchy, accessible, memorable pick your superlative and its likely to apply here.
But the twist is that Ghost wraps its saccharine melodies in ambiguously ominous lyrical content. The chorus is perhaps the most blatant example of this unique brand of bubblegum blasphemy, flirting with both sexual and Biblical tropes. He asserts that the song is more about friendship and how, together with someone else, you might have been something at one point and then you ended up just not being like that.
At 1:57 we get a slithering, concise guitar lead before a protracted pre-chorus that leads to a revisit of the refrain at 2:42 with Forges strong vocals alone in the spotlight, save for some backing vocals and sparse guitar chords before its back once again to full-instrumentation for multiple interpretations of the powerful chorus before the fade-out that brings Mary On A Cross to its ultimate conclusion.
Confounding, contradictory, and infectiously appealing if you dont already have this one on your playlist, odds are youll be adding the track soon enough!
Ghost dove headfirst into their madcap narrative mythology with the 2019 single Mary On A Cross and with over 320 million streams over on Spotify (and counting), its safe to say the creative decision was a sound one! Sacrilegious? Boundary-pushing? Perhaps, but the track is unquestionably catchy as all get-out. You simply cant be scared of hooks this infectious! These Swedish occult rockers really caught lightning in a bottle with the track, and theres more on the way in the form of upcoming (May 2023) LP Phantomime. Join the millions of acolytes and familiarize yourself with all of Ghosts recorded output over at Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Qp56T7n950O3EGMsSl81D
Additionally, you can pre-order the new album, sign up for the mailing list, and keep up to speed on the bands upcoming 2023 tour by visiting: https://ghost-official.com
Spell, the Vancouver, British Columbia-based metal/psychedelic/progressive duo made up of brothers Cam and Al Lester, has been delighting diehard fans since 1993 with their brand of hypnotic, accessible heavy rock.
From the 2022 LP, Tragic Magic, Ultraviolet was the radiant first single with razor-sharp hooks and songcraft steeped in the atmosphere of the arcane. Wasting no time getting things started, the track begins with heavy percussive stabs and tasty drum fills supporting some impressively complex six-string showmanship. Jagged, coruscating guitar riffs dance amidst Als assertive drums and Cams bass, while the dreamlike, delay- and reverb-rich vocals provide a mellifluous counterpart to the harsh licks. At :55 we get the first taste of the soaring, majestic refrain, bolstered by some tasteful synth work. This is some serious earworm stuff, folks. Lyrically, the tracks an epic narrative thats probably best explained by the brothers themselves: "Ultraviolet" explores the hidden terror of forces that rule us but cannot be perceived or understood," says Spell vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Cam Mesmer. "Our world is shaped by powers that the limitations of our physical bodies prevent us from directly encountering. Will we fall victim to the lust for that which cannot be ours, or harness them to fulfill our wildest dreams?"
Heady stuff, to be sure.
But, back to the music: At the 2:48 mark begins a blistering dual guitar solo with both of the Lesters building intensity and complexity before its back one final time to the irresistible chorus and then the whole affair comes to an abrupt halt at 3:42. Ultraviolet manages to pull off a very complex feat, being simultaneously challenging and complex, while also massively accessible. This is a towering representation of an adventurous musical force at their most delightfully ferocious. Be sure to check this one out! |
Available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, and PS5:
RIVALS SEASON 31 SEASON PASS - ( $24.99/ $24.99)
Entitles purchaser to all 17 songs released between now and June 7th!!)
(Most tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation systems approximately 3 days after listed date)
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **
Note: As of this post, above tracks marked with are available for the Xbox One/Xbox Series X and tracks marked with  are available for PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5; these tracks are not compatible with Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or Nintendo Wii.
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