slavghoul

[slavghoul]

Yesterday I went on a lil trip to see Zbigniew M. Bielak's art exhibition currently being held in Poland. Majority of it is dedicated to Ghost. I didn't capture it all on photo, but the first room has all these huuuge, beautifully printed covers and artworks from every era Bielak has contributed to, from Infestissumam to Impera, so you can marvel at all the details from up close.

There was also a section with sketches and early concepts for various Ghost (and Darkthrone, I believe) artworks. I believe some of them were shared recently on ZMB's Instagram.

What I found particularly neat was that hidden between the artworks were what seem to be e-mails from Tobias with motif suggestions for Meliora and Prequelle's art. There were also some rough ideas for Impera handwritten by Zbigniew - possibly from some kind of a brainstorming session between them?

Overall a fun exhibition for a Ghost fan to see, though I wish there was some more behind-the-scenes stuff as that's what always excites me most. But still I had a blast during the whole trip, and hope to see Ghost and Mr Bielak cooperate again in the future!

#the band ghost #zbigniew bielak #zbigniew m. bielak #tobias forge

[slavghoul]

Slaaaaav i’m confused it’s not on DVD what?

Seeing what an avid collector of physical media TF is, I don't think he would pass up the opportunity to release the movie (his own movie! a movie he made, whaa!) in a physical format. If there's anything like a limited edition VHS tape, he's snatching that #666 the moment it's out of the production line. Plus, let's be real, it will sell like crazyyyy, in all possible formats. Some kind of on-demand digital release to go along with it would make sense too, business wise. Probably after the cinema run though?

[slavghoul]

Are you readyyyyy!!! 🗣️🗣️

#the band ghost #ghovie #biting at the bars of my enclosure

[slavghoul]

Hi Do you know if there is any truth in what Richie said about Ghost today? He was talking about touring with 5FDP and then mentioned Ghost later this year 👻

Oop, someone's getting a strongly worded email from management today! I think late 2024 is what many of us theorised based on the info we've had so far, and how things were the previous years. Ghost goes in cycles like that, so a fall/winter tour sounds absolutely reasonable to me. I still stand by my prediction that we'll get at least the news regarding the movie in spring, and then gradually more and more info on the album, the new frontman, and so forth. I know he says a lot of things and many simply don't happen for this or that reason, but in this case I think Tobias was not playing when he said there was 'lots to come in 2024.' Cause there is! Let's just hope nothing stands in the way and things can go as planned.

[slavghoul]

Did he say this documentary is going to be in Swedish and only played at festivals in Sweden or worldwide?

It's in English! To my understanding it will be played on various festivals around the world in the summer, and a digital/physical release will come later in the year.

[slavghoul]

"VOÏVOD: We Are Connected"

Tobias will be featured in an upcoming Voivod documentary scheduled for release this year, where he was interviewed alongside fellow musician and close friend Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth). Their interview was filmed in Stockholm recently.

TF is an avid Voivod fan and has cited them as a major inspiration on numerous occasions, particularly in relation to his pre-Ghost band, Subvision. As his MySpace bio stated: "With the intention of making something different than the death metal that I had become synonymous with, I wanted to create music with a slightly more melodic/pop edge. The wish was to make something along the lines of Voivod’s Angel Rat." A song off that album ("The Prow") was also included in a playlist he crafted for Apple Music in 2021 featuring some of his most formative influences.

The documentary is currently in post-production and you can help funding its completion by making a pledge on Kickstarter:

The goal is to fund the completion of a theatrical cut in time to screen at festivals and events this summer, and a physical release later on.

The project is a labor of love of numerous Voivod enthusiasts, Tobias included, so consider pledging even a small amount in your support and spread the news around, if you can.

For more information: IMDB, Facebook

Thank you to Felipe Belalcazar for the info.

#the band ghost #tobias forge #voivod #voivod: we are connected

[slavghoul]

Phantomime has been nominated for a Grammis award in the Best Hardrock/Metal category!

Grammis 2024 will take place on May 8 in Stockholm. This year the gala will be broadcasted on YouTube. You can set a notification here.

Also nominated in the category are:

Eradikated – Descendants

In Flames – Foregone

Marduk – Memento Mori

Tribulation – Hamartia – EP

#the band ghost #phantomime #grammis

[slavghoul]

Tobias Forge at Artery Studios in Stockholm during the recording of Prequelle, November 2017. Photos by Linda Åkerberg

[slavghoul]

"This thing about being a rebel, being an outsider, also has its price. I always took a step away from everyone else. (...) That’s just how I was. I didn’t join our school trip in the ninth grade and I didn’t go to the graduation either, because I didn’t want to join in. I didn't belong there. Even now in adulthood when I have a lot of things that I should be happy about and I’m really as far from all that as possible, I still have… I don’t know if it’s a nightmare, but I have a recurring dream where I’m still that age and I’m at home, alone, feeling as if I shouldn’t be there, that I should be where the others are but I'm not."

- Tobias Forge, Sweden Rock Mag 2020

"It's so important to spend time together, and have fun together, smiling together, feeling you're belonging somewhere, don't you think? It is a wonderful feeling. I've always felt that if I just got to the end of the rainbow, whatever is there, I will find belonging... And I'm assuming that this is it. The belonging that we're sharing."

- Papa Emeritus IV's speech in Indianapolis 8/22/2023

[slavghoul]

Tobias during the recording of Prequelle at studios in Stockholm, Wiltshire and Los Angeles

By Tom Dalgety

[slavghoul]

“When I had nothing, and lived in a small apartment that cost very little because the ceiling leaked, the dream was to be able to live off making music. When I had kids that became even more important. Now it’s about something else. I’m responsible for showing my wife and my kids that all these years of waiting for me have been worth it. And that goes beyond money, because at the end of the day that’s just seasoning. One day my kids will be grown-up and I have to be able to show them that all this time playing rock shows had a real purpose.”

— Kerrang, 2019: The Next Chapter. Tobias Forge And The Future Of Ghost

“Lastly I would like to dedicate my work with Ghost to those who have sacrificed and keep sacrificing the most in order for me to able to do this: Boel, Morris and Minou. I love you and I can’t formulate words to describe how utterly appreciative and thankful I am for your support. Tack.”

— ‘Ceremony and Devotion’ liner notes

[slavghoul]

In my world, rock and roll is about liberation and intellectualism and freedom to be whomever you want. Freedom to feel good about yourself, whether you were born Hispanic or black or homosexual or transgender. And that’s what we’re trying to promote.

—Tobias Forge

[slavghoul]

Helsinki 2010 © Maija Lahtinen

[slavghoul]

“Always be true to yourselves and treat others as you would like to be treated. Set up personal goals and don’t be too hard on yourself. You must live for something you like and strive for leading as good a life as you can or want to. Take care of yourself and those that matter to you. Be aware of the consequences of your actions. You start with you. Evolve yourself for the better. Always.”

— Tobias Forge (x)

[slavghoul]

The idea of the devil representing ‘evil’ as opposed to 'good’ does not… it clashes with my idea of the devil. Because the devil for me represents rock and roll, film, freedom, humor - essentially, my life and my background because it’s so coloured with so many “blasphemous” expressions. I think that’s one of the most common misconceptions that makes it so hard for people to fathom - that there’s obviously the biblical devil, and then you have the pop-cultural devil. The pop-cultural devil being very much a representative of freedom, intellectualism and liberation from the chains of handicapping worship of the three Abrahamic religions - because that’s what [these religions] are about, they’re about control. Satan represents, in the pop cultural sense, the opposite of that. In the Bible it represents evil, but I know very, very few things in the history of the world that have been perpetrated in the name of the devil that have been to the non-benefit of mankind, whereas… I mean, just look at the amount of abuse and human despair that has been caused in the name of 'good.’

— Tobias Forge on what Satan means to him

[slavghoul]

In the studio recording Prequelle / Photo by Linda Åkerberg

[slavghoul]

"Death has already been sung enough about in the circles of heavy music and usually the point of view is always the same, which is to say that death is praised and glorified. Ghost’s message is different. I want to remind people of how great it is to be alive. How tomorrow things may be better, even if you feel low today."

- Tobias Forge, Soundi Magazine 6/2018