“Sermons in Shadow: Ghost’s Unholy Spectacle Enchants Oslo”

Kenneth Sporsheim
3 days ago
3 min read

Oslo Spektrum, 24 May 2025

IMAGES KENNETH SPORSHEIM / WORDS THOMAS V KIRKEBY

Sermons in Shadow: Ghost’s Unholy Spectacle Enchants Oslo — Ghost

Ghost brought their black mass to Oslo, unleashing dark delight upon a thrilled audience.

Ghost needs no introduction. The band has reached new heights with every release since their 2010 debut album Opus Eponymous, and their latest album Skeletá debuted at number one in several countries — including the UK, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Belgium, and even on the US Billboard 200. That’s quite the feat. It's the first time a performing Swedish artist has topped the Billboard 200 since Ace of Base did with The Sign in 1993.

In the US, the album sold 86,000 copies in its first week — including 44,000 vinyl records — making it the best first-week performance for a hard rock album since Billboard began tracking such sales. But let’s get to the show.

Ghost arrived in Oslo for the final concert of the European leg of the Skeletour World Tour 2025, and the venue — Oslo Spektrum — was sold out. For the first time at a Ghost concert, audience members were required to place their phones in locked pouches. A curse, no doubt, for those hoping to share the experience with friends and family who couldn’t get tickets. But in truth, it made the experience so much better — no distraction from glowing screens all around.

As the audience entered the venue, they were met by a stage hidden behind a veil of what looked like black leaves — adding to the already immense anticipation. Twenty minutes before showtime, classical piano music and choral voices began to play through the speakers, creating a perfectly sacred atmosphere. At this point, people were still finding their seats, beers and popcorn in hand, ready to be entertained. And entertained they were.

At 9pm sharp, Papa V Perpetua (on his first tour with the band) appeared on the giant screens beside the stage, singing Peacefield. Lights shone from behind the black veil, which dropped dramatically as the chorus hit, revealing a colossal stage designed to resemble a cathedral, with lights forming an enormous upside-down cross hovering above it. The crowd's reaction was exactly what the band must have hoped for.

What followed was a Skeletour de force, masterfully orchestrated by Tobias Forge and the six Ghouls sharing the stage with him. For two full hours, the band performed songs from across their catalogue — including four tracks from the recent Skeletá — complete with pyrotechnics, brilliant visuals, and a hell of a good time.

By the time the band launched into Year Zero, everyone in Oslo Spektrum — from the youngest (around ten, by my guess) to the oldest (maybe sixty?) — were chanting “Hell Satan, Archangelo” in unison. If this had been any other night in Oslo, some might have found it alarming. But at a Ghost concert, it’s just par for the course.

When the band returned for their encore — “relieved to find the audience still there,” as Papa V Perpetua quipped — the roof nearly came off. I’m not entirely sure it’ll ever come back down.

It’s nearly impossible to dislike Ghost. The music is catchy, the humour is tongue-in-cheek, and the visuals are stunning. Tobias is the perfect host, leading the audience through his musical visions of Hell. Sure, the lyrics and symbolism might be a bit much for some — even borderline offensive — but if you focus on the bright side: this is about as uplifting and cheerful as a black mass can get.