GHOST Recorded Covers Of RUSH, MISFITS, U2 And MOTÖRHEAD For Possible Future Release

GHOST leader Tobias Forge has revealed in a new interview with NME that he recorded covers of classic songs by RUSH, MISFITS, U2 and MOTÖRHEAD during the sessions that yielded the upcoming "Phantomime" EP, scheduled for release on May 18. However, it is not clear if those tracks will ever see the light of day.

"During the demoing of [GHOST's latest studio album] 'Impera', I kept working on demos for what I just referred to as the 'cover album'," he told NME. "Originally, the idea was to have 10 songs on this covers record, because I wanted to make a complete record and that LP was going to basically mirror 'Impera' somehow.

"Originally the selection was a little bit more eclectic," Forge revealed. "Look, I'm not going into great detail about them, because we might use some of them at a later point. But it was basically like a piano version of a MOTÖRHEAD song. There was [also] a MISFITS song that was really cool and a U2 track. We recorded it all. In fact, we did a really finished demo of RUSH's 'Distant Early Warning', and then after 'Impera', I was just like, 'I want to do a rock EP. A pure rock EP.'"

Forge explained that the decision to abandon the idea of a 10-track covers album in a favor of an EP came about because he felt "fried" by the "Impera" album sessions.

"I thought I’ll sort of take away some of the more experimental stuff, and just focus on the rock songs — the ones that are energetic," he said. "The ones that don't go into any excursions, as in not a piano-led MOTÖRHEAD track. There were even instrumental covers; like proper instrumentals. But I just wanted to basically make a new recording that was as opposed to 'Impera' as could be — quick and fairly simple."

"Phantomime" is comprised of covers of classics and deep cuts by TELEVISION, GENESIS, THE STRANGLERS, IRON MAIDEN and Tina Turner.

Sunday's (April 9) announcement of "Phantomime"'s impending release also solved the mystery of GHOST's recent "Jesus Is Coming" campaign, as referenced in the Good Friday premiere of the newest installment of the band's long-running webisode series, "Chapter 17: Nap Time". "Phantomime"'s May 18 release via Loma Vista Recordings was heralded by GHOST's interpretation of GENESIS's 1992 satirical stab at televangelists "Jesus He Knows Me", available now to stream and download.

This second coming of "Jesus He Knows Me" is accompanied by an Alex Ross Perry-directed video that will surely make the case that one person's beauty is another's blasphemy. Culminating in a climactic ritual that must be seen to be believed, GHOST's visual interpretation of "Jesus He Knows Me" rises to the occasion in unholy fashion — and then some.

"Phantomime" track listing:

01. See No Evil (TELEVISION)
02. Jesus He Knows Me (GENESIS)
03. Hanging Around (THE STRANGLERS)
04. Phantom Of The Opera (IRON MAIDEN)
05. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Tina Turner)

GHOST is no stranger to covers, having previously tackled material originally written and recorded by THE BEATLES ("Here Comes The Sun"), ABBA ("I'm A Marionette"), DEPECHE MODE ("Waiting For The Night"), Roky Erickson ("If You Have Ghosts"), METALLICA ("Enter Sandman"), PET SHOP BOYS ("It's A Sin") and EURYTHMICS ("Missionary Man"), among others.

This past February, GHOST revealed details of its upcoming "Re-Imperatour" summer 2023 U.S. tour with special guest AMON AMARTH. Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 27-date trek kicks off on Wednesday, August 2 in Concord, California at Concord Pavilion, with stops in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin and more before wrapping up with the band's Monday, September 11 return to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

GHOST is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Impera", which sold 70,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the third top 10 album — and fifth top 40-charting set — for the Swedish act. The 12-song effort was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace.

"Impera" landed at position No. 1 in Germany and Sweden, No. 2 in the U.K., Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, No. 3 in Australia, No. 5 in France and Ireland, and No. 20 in Italy.

Forge worked on the follow-up to 2018's "Prequelle" with Åhlund and Swedish co-writers Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare, whose credits include Madonna and Lady Gaga.

In January, GHOST released a new version of its song "Spillways" featuring a guest appearance by DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott.

"Spillways" is taken from "Impera", which was released in March 2022.