Faith (Ghost song) explained

Faith
Type:single
Artist:Ghost
Album:Prequelle
Genre:Heavy metal[1] [2]
Label:Loma Vista
Producer:Tom Dalgety
Prev Title:Dance Macabre
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Kiss the Go-Goat / Mary on a Cross
Next Year:2019

"Faith" is a song by Swedish rock band Ghost. It was their third single off of their fourth studio album Prequelle. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in September 2019.[3]

Background

The song title was first revealed in February 2018,[4] and later debuted in a live setting in early May 2018, almost a month prior to its release on its respective studio album, Prequelle.[5] [6] A music video was released on December 20, 2018.[7] The video consists of live performance footage from the band's North American leg of their tour "A Pale Tour Named Death",[8] and was released to celebrate the completion of the first leg of the tour.[9] The video was directed by Bill Yukich.[10] The video includes footage of crowds watching the band performing the song in front of the stage backdrop that was made to look like the outside of a church, with stained glass windows showing off incarnations of Cardinal Copia and Papa Emeritus.[11] [12]

Composition and themes

The song is an original composition, of no relation to the frequently covered George Michael song "Faith".[13] The song contains "soaring" heavy guitar riffs and "gospel-adjacent melodies".[14] [15] The song is one of few that features frontman Tobias Forge on lead guitar.[16] Forge said of his guitar-work on the track: Loudwire described the song as "one of the more metal moments of Prequelle, and interpreted its lyrics to be Forge's response to being taken to court by earlier members of the band in 2017, which Forge went on to win, notably with the lines "A fecal trail across the land /Although it stinks, feels, and looks identical / A pack of fools take the stand."[17] [1]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Every Ghost Song Ranked From Worst to Best. Loudwire Staff. 17 August 2018. Loudwire.
  2. Web site: Headphones: Ghost Finds New Sound Composed From Elements Of Traditional Metal. Nason. Max. man of the hour. 2 September 2019.
  3. Web site: Ghost Chart History. Billboard.
  4. Web site: GHOST Is Mixing Their New Album Which Is Loosely About "Death And Doom". 2 February 2018. Metal Injection.
  5. Web site: See Ghost Premiere New 'Prequelle' Songs Live at "Secret" Hollywood Show. 5 May 2018. Revolver.
  6. Web site: Watch Ghost Debut New Songs "Faith" And "Dance Macabre" Live. 5 May 2018. Theprp.com.
  7. Web site: GHOST Releases 'Faith' Video. 20 December 2018. Blabbermouth.net.
  8. Web site: Watch Ghost's New Tour Video for 'Faith'. Martin. Kielty. Ultimate Classic Rock.
  9. Web site: Ghost wrap up A Pale Tour Named Death with live Faith video. Munro. Scott. 21 December 2018. Metal Hammer.
  10. Web site: Ghost Look Back on "A Pale Tour Named Death" with New "Faith' Video. Exclaim!.
  11. Web site: Watch: Ghost debuts electrifying music video for 'Faith'.
  12. Web site: Ghost Release Live Video for "Faith". 20 December 2018. MetalSucks.
  13. Web site: Relive Ghost's A Pale Tour Named Death with live "Faith" video - Music News - ABC News Radio. ABC News Radio. 2019-05-30. 2020-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018055333/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/12/20/relive-ghosts-a-pale-tour-named-death-with-live-faith-video.html. dead.
  14. Web site: Ghost Mastermind Tobias Forge Reports From Studio in First "Unmasked" U.S. Interview. 2 February 2018. Revolver.
  15. Web site: See Ghost's Epic New Live "Faith" Video Shot on A Pale Tour Named Death Trek. 20 December 2018. Revolver.
  16. Web site: Ghost Unveil Official Video for "Faith". Bienstock. Richard. 20 December 2018. Guitar World.
  17. Web site: Ex-Ghost Members Want New Trial, Allege Conflict of Interest. Michael. Christopher. Loudwire.