per aspera ad inferi

Hej, I'm slavghoul & this page is dedicated to the Swedish band Ghost

[slavghoul]

As you may remember, a few weeks ago I made a post about the upcoming Voivod documentary "We Are Connected" which features interviews with various musicians who are fans of Voivod, including Tobias. Above you can see a short snippet.

Here's some news from Felipe, the director of the documentary: so far, the film has been officially submitted to five Canadian film festivals and one in Europe. The world premiere will take place at Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada this summer, though exact date is not known as of now. Digital / DVD release will follow after the festivals. Currently the film is still in post-production, but the work is moving fast. Stay tuned!

[slavghoul]

So how did you like the trailer? Did y'all get the tickets?? Are you as positively buzzing and weirdly emotional as I am???!!

[slavghoul]

"Absolution" recorded live in Los Angeles was released along with the movie trailer. Pre-order full soundtrack here.

[slavghoul]

Morris, Tobias & Minou at the Grammis.

Unfortunately, Ghost has lost in their category but the competition was tough this year. Congrats to In Flames!

[slavghoul]

Slav do we know the theaters that will be playing the move yet!!

As per the press release all details will be revealed on May 9:

Full trailer launch and cinema tickets will be available beginning Thursday, May 9. Worldwide screening details and ticket links will be revealed at ritehereritenow.com at 2pm BST / 9am EDT / 6am PDT.

Exact screening dates may vary between territories. Notable exceptions include Sweden and Denmark, where screenings will be held on June 20 & 23, and France, where screenings will be held on June 23 only. Full screening information will be available at ritehereritenow.com from May 9.

Full thing has lots of interesting info (like that we'll get the soundtrack release, woo!) https://www.nastylittleman.com/2024/05/01/ghost-debut-feature-film-rite-here-rite-now-in-cinemas-worldwide-june-20-22-only/

[slavghoul]

June 20 & 22 only!

Shot over the course of GHOST’s two sold-out shows at Los Angeles' hallowed Kia Forum, RITE HERE RITE NOW fully immerses viewers in the technicolor melodrama of the vaunted live ritual that has helped to propel Sweden’s foremost theatrical rock export to GRAMMY-winning, chart-topping, arena-headlining status the world over.

RITE HERE RITE NOW is, however, so much more than a concert movie. GHOST’s debut feature film combines live performance from the two-night finale of the band’s RE-IMPERATOUR U.S.A. 2023 with a narrative story that picks up plot threads from the band’s long-running webisode series.

https://www.ritehereritenow.com/

[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!

[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!!! 🗣️🗣️

[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:

We Are Connected

The official VOÏVOD documentary.

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.

[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

[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