In the 15 months since the release of Ghost’s debut album, Opus Eponymous (Rise Above), American fans of the Swedish metal outfit—not to be confused with the legendary Japanese psych-rock group of the same name—have been teased by YouTube evidence that the band’s live shows are chock-full of high-camp occult theatrics and muscular hard rock. Unfortunately, the band’s visa issues have kept most Americans from experiencing the real thing. Before embarking on a rescheduled U.S. tour, one of Ghost’s five Nameless Ghouls spoke with Mark Hoffmann, guitarist for local riff slingers Bible of the Devil, whose upcoming album, For the Love of Thugs and Fools, is out April 10 on Cruz del Sur. Ghost plays Bottom Lounge on Tue 1/24; see page B13 for more. Bible of the Devil plays the Red Line Tap on Sat 1/28. —Miles Raymer
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A lot is made of the sort of satanic undertones in your lyrics, but I’ve always felt like rock ‘n’ roll and Satan are kind of a natural pairing. What we’re singing about is oppression and the small man’s relationship to God and Satan—the superstition and feeblemindedness. We’re trying to paint a picture of the very futile attempt of mankind to understand what actually is divine.
