Tobias Forge might soon be preparing to ditch the masks. And we’re not just talking about the physical ones here.
Whilst recently speaking to NME, the Ghost mastermind revealed that the band’s elaborate mythos could soon be retired. “That element will probably be over quite soon,” Forge said, suggesting that the ongoing character cycle might not survive past their next album. This change would mark a major shift in how the Swedish occult-rock icons operate.
Ghost’s sixth record, Skeletá lands on April 25. The album was led by the hammering single ‘Satanized’. It also introduces Forge’s newest persona, Papa Perpetua, following the burial of Papa Emeritus IV after the Impera era.
But this time, Forge seems less committed to keeping the soap opera running. “It’s not productive to have this endless storytelling,” he told the British magazine. “If fans need the lore in order to like the band, then that element will probably be over.”
It’s not a full-stop on Ghost, though. Forge was candid in admitting that he still has goals. He has venues he wants to conquer and milestones to tick off. It goes without saying, he’s not about to vanish behind the curtain just yet. But the message is clear: the next era of Ghost might be more about music than myth.
He also pushed back on the “rock is dead” narrative that commonly gets utilised in the media. He cited Ghost’s own rise and bands like Sleep Token as proof that heavy music can still thrive without chasing radio hooks or streaming trends. “You can still do it,” Forge said. “We are living proof.”
Ghost kick off their massive UK, Europe, and US tour on April 15 in Manchester. Given Forge’s comments, it remains to be seen whether this is the last round of Papa theatrics or the beginning of something stripped back. Who knows Skeletá just might be the line where fantasy fades and the real Tobias Forge steps forward.
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