Concert Review #1 - Ghost at the Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 7/26/2025
Originally posted to Facebook on 7/30/25
Link to post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19tU7LwzUg/
Allison Rich and myself had the fun experience of seeing the Swedish hard rock/metal band Ghost in concert in Nashville, Tennessee at the Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, July 26, 2025. While we were in the serious nosebleed seat range, the show was still very entertaining! For those who don’t know, Ghost has enacted a no cell phone policy on this tour. Upon entering the arena and scanning the tickets, the phones are put into pouches that can’t be opened until the show is over, when an attendant opens them outside of the arena; you keep the pouch during the show. As such, videos and photos from the tour are few and far between. This allows for better engagement of the audience during the show. There was no opening act for the show, and the arena was not completely sold out, but was close to it.
The band consists of singer Tobias Forge, in the character of “Papa Perpetua V”, and the “Nameless Ghouls”-- 2 guitarists, bass, drums, 2 keyboardists, 2 backing vocalists, and a “utility” multi-instrumental musician.
For more information about Ghost, (and there is a lot!) Please see my spotlight feature on the band here:
And for the review of their most recent Ghost album, “Skeleta”, see here:
Here is the setlist for our show. I have noticed that most of the tour has had mostly the same setlist, but a couple of slots in the show can vary from show to show.
Peacefield
Lachryma
Spirit
Per Aspera ad Inferi
Elizabeth
Majesty
The Future Is a Foreign Land
Devil Church
Cirice
Darkness at the Heart of My Love
Satanized
Satan Prayer
Umbra
Year Zero
He Is
Rats
Kiss the Go-Goat
Mummy Dust
Monstrance Clock
Encore:
Mary on a Cross
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer
As the show began, the song “Peacefield” which is the first song on the new album, begins with a peaceful a cappella choir, the recording of which was played over the PA system. While the band (the “Nameless Ghouls”) took the stage, the stage was mostly obscured with a curtain that had a shredded look, allowing the audience to peep through. The song begins (following the choir part) with a single guitar riff. Tobias Forge as Papa Perpetua V, begins singing and the rest of the band kicks in with big power chords and harmony vocals, the curtain remains in place, until after the first chorus. (Personally, I would have thought it would have been at this point of the song, but that’s what they chose to do.) The chorus of this song reminds many people of Journey’s 1983 hit “Separate Ways”. The mix was great in this song and throughout the show. All of the vocals were clear and every instrument was discernable.
Peacefield was followed by “Lachryma” which is Latin for “tears”. This song also follows “Peacefield” on the album, and both songs, along with “Satanized” have been successful singles for the band. Most of the songs in Ghost’s repertoire are reminiscent in style of the big 80s hard rock/AOR, although some songs get heavier, they are a long way from thrash/speed/death/black metal, etc. The style reminds me of 80s Alice Cooper, such as “Poison” and “Feed My Frankenstein”.
Next up, is “Spirit” from the third Ghost album, 2015’s “Meliora”. Following that is “Per Aspera ad Inferi” from the second album “Infestissumam”, released in 2013. Songs 5-6 seem to be the variable slots on the tour. In Nashville, we were treated to “Elizabeth” (From 2010’s debut album “Opus Eponymous”) and “Majesty” (from “Meliora”). During “Majesty”, Papa appeared to levitate over the drum riser.
Fan favorite “The Future is a Foreign Land”, from the 2019 EP “Seven Inches of Satanic Panic” was up next, and Papa updated the lyrics from “2024” to “2034”. The song has a bit of a 60s vibe to my ears. Following that, they return to “Meliora” for “Devil Church”, as is the next selection “Cirice”, which is one of my favorite Ghost songs. After that is “Darkness in the Heart of My Love” from the album prior to “Skeleta’”, 2022’s “Impera”.
They returned to the current album, "Skeleta’” for the first single from that album, “Satanized”, which the crowd reacted well to. They then return to the debut album for “Satan Prayer”. However, they jumped back to “Skeleta’” for the fantastic track, “Umbra”. In the song they make a big show of the cowbell, certainly a reference to the legendary SNL sketch. However, this is the song where the Nameless Ghouls get to shine with solo features from the lead guitarist and primary keyboardist; great playing!
“Year Zero” from “Infestissumam” follows, and sees a crowd, estimated at 20,000, chanting the following demon names:
Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub
Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer
It was great fun! That was followed by sort of a love song to Satan “He Is” from “Meliora”. Then they start rockin’ hard again with “Rats!” from 2018’s “Prequelle”, followed by “Kiss the Go-Goat” from “Seven Inches of Satanic Panic”. They then return to “Meliora” for “Mummy Dust”, which ends with a blast of confetti, reportedly made from play money with Papa’s picture on it. The main set closes with “Monstrance Clock” off of “Infestissumam”, which ends with a big sing-along chorus of:
Come together (come together), together as one
Come together (come together) for Lucifer's son (for Lucifer's son)
Come together (come together), together as one
Come together (come together) for Lucifer's son (for Lucifer's son)
Come together (come together), together as a one
Come together (come together), forever as one (forever as one)
The encore was a 1-2-3 punch of some of their biggest songs: “Mary on a Cross” (“Seven Inches of Satanic Panic”), “Dance Macabre” (“Prequelle”) and “Square Hammer” (from the 2015 EP “Popestar”).
WOW what a show! Anyone who loves a big rock show will absolutely enjoy themselves! And remember to take the “Satanic” aspect with a big pinch of salt, as it is really a parody on the Catholic church and organized religion in general (see my spotlight, linked above, for more on this). This is a big fun stage show, with great rock music! If that sounds good to you, then get yourself to a Ghost show if you have a chance! 5/5 stars!
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