Opus Eponymous
Released
Corpse paint and clerical outfits and satanic schlock and anonymity had been done before, but never together and never quite this catchy. Tobias Forge (a.k.a. Papa Emeritus) and his subsequently litigious Nameless Ghouls borrow Blue Oyster Cult’s heavenly harmonies and Mercyful Fate’s demonic dual guitar interplay to create worship music for witches and warlocks. “Ritual,” “Elizabeth” (specifically Bathory), and “Satan Prayer” make for some pretty hooky, hokey hymns. Eventually Ghost would preach to their flock in arenas, but here the ministration still feels personal.