SONG REVIEW: Ghost - "Satanized"
A return that's a tad too familiar.
The first single for any new Ghost album is part song, part story. It sets the tone for the aesthetic and the vibe of the upcoming record, and for a group that’s reliant on theatrical visuals, it’s important to nail it. “Rats” was a spectacular glammed-up anthem for the plagues to come on Prequelle, while “Call Me Little Sunshine” was a fine introduction to the rise and fall of empires on Impera. The group’s sixth album, entitled Skeletá, introduces itself with “Satanized”, a clean arena rock effort that looks within while ignoring the slightly stagnant cycle the band has fallen into recently.
In introducing new bandleader Papa Emeritus V Perpetua, “Satanized” is a success thanks to its music video. On a song level, it’s just too similar to the polished efforts of Impera to truly stand among Ghost’s greats. Yes, it’s well produced and performed, but that’s the expectation for the group at this point. Tobias Forge shouldn’t rest on the laurels of a song just sounding great, and his attempts to look within and return to more demonic subject matter doesn’t land as well when the production is more pop than power metal. The repetitive nature of the verses and chorus play into to some of the weaker moments of Impera, though I’ve definitely been humming its tune since I’ve heard it because it’s still pretty catchy.
“Satanized” is a fine song, and I think most casual listeners will get a kick out of it. But the band’s increased profile in recent years has only raised the stakes for their new music, and while Forge certainly sounds good here, I think they’ve left some meat on the bone. Perhaps future singles will look further inside this new Papa Emeritus in more interesting sonic fashion, because Ghost has always been at their best when they take the expected and turn it into something ghoulishly unexpected.
Verdict: Fine/10
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