Seven Inches of Satanic Panic explained

Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
Type:EP
Longtype:/ single
Artist:Ghost
Cover:File:Ghost - Seven Inches of Satanic Panic.jpg
Released:13 September 2019
Studio:Park Studio, Stockholm
Genre:Psychedelic rock[1] [2]
Length:7:21
Label:Loma Vista
Producer:Gene Walker
Prev Title:Prequelle
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Impera
Next Year:2022

Seven Inches of Satanic Panic is the third EP by the Swedish rock band Ghost. First released digitally on 13 September 2019 by Loma Vista Recordings, it features the songs "Kiss the Go-Goat" and "Mary on a Cross", written by vocalist Tobias Forge along with songwriters Salem al Fakir and Vincent Pontare. It was later released on 7" vinyl. Seven Inches of Satanic Panic has been described as a two-track EP and as a single.

In 2022, "Mary on a Cross" charted in the top 40 of thirteen European countries after trending on TikTok. The song was also certified Gold in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, and Platinum in Poland and the United States.

Background and themes

According to Ghost's fictional backstory, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic contains two songs that were written and recorded by an early incarnation of the band in 1969, when Papa Emeritus Nihil was the vocalist.[3] [4] The 7" vinyl release claims to be remastered versions of songs recorded in 1969 at Thorn Industrial Audio Recording Studios, Hollywood.

According to Kelsey Chapstick of Revolver, "Kiss the Go-Goat" explores the favorite theme of Tobias Forge, leader of Ghost and the musician behind their Papa Emeritus character; "Lucifer, and the joy of giving yourself over to him."[4]

Paul Travers of Metal Hammer described the ambiguous lyrics of "Mary on a Cross" as a "provocative mash-up of Biblical and sexual imagery."[5] Forge has been hesitant to explain the meaning behind the song, but admits there are multiple layers to the lyrics; "The chorus is written very tongue in cheek of course. 'Go down' doesn't necessarily mean as in a 69 sense of the word... it can also mean go down as in go down in history, your own ascent. Mary doesn't necessarily mean Mary, mother of Jesus. It might mean Mary Magdalene, the proclaimed whore who might have been the wife of Jesus – just as a symbol for someone who came off as one thing but actually had other intentions and did something else. Someone who's miscredited." He went on to state that the song was "more about friendship and how, together with someone else, you might have been something at one point and then you ended up just not being like that."[5]

Release

On 12 September 2019, Ghost released a music video for "Kiss the Go-Goat", which depicts Papa Nihil performing as frontman of the band at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California, in 1969.[6] [7] The following day, on 13 September 2019, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic was released on music streaming services through Loma Vista Recordings.[8] It was released on 7" vinyl, with "Kiss the Go-Goat" as the A-side and "Mary on a Cross" as the B-side, on 27 September 2019. Seven Inches of Satanic Panic has been described as a two-track EP and as a single.[4] The vinyl release peaked at number 2 on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart,[9] whilst "Kiss the Go-Goat" reached number 4 on the Kerrang! Rock Chart.[10]

In July and August 2022, "Mary on a Cross" went viral on TikTok.[11] [12] In response, Ghost released a "Slowed + Reverb" version of the song digitally on 26 August.[13] The original recording then became the band's first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 when it reached number 90 in September.[14] An official "lyric video" for the song was released on 14 December. Similar to the video for "Kiss the Go-Goat", it features grainy, Super 8-like footage.[15]

Track listing

All writing credited to Papa Emeritus Nihil and A Group of Nameless Ghouls.

Personnel

Ghost

Charts

"Mary on a Cross"

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 89
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 50
France (SNEP)[18] 191
Global 200 (Billboard)[19] 50
Greece International (IFPI)[20] 28
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[21] 27
Lithuania (AGATA)[22] 20
Norway (VG-lista)[23] 40
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 90
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[26] 11

"Seven Inches of Satanic Panic"

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 51

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ghost unveil new song "Mary on a Cross": Stream. Kaufman. Spencer. 13 September 2019. Consequence of Sound. 20 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Ghost release new single Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic. Munro. Scott. 13 September 2019. Metal Hammer. September 20, 2019.
  3. Web site: Officially Official: Ghost Release Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Vinyl. Rosenberg. Axl. 12 September 2019. MetalSucks. 20 September 2019.
  4. Web site: Hear Ghost Get Groovy on Poppy, Fun New Song "Kiss the Go-Goat". Chapstick. Kelsey. 12 September 2019. Revolver. 20 September 2019.
  5. Web site: The true meaning behind Ghost's Mary On A Cross. Travers. Paul. 19 December 2022. Metal Hammer. 2 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Ghost Releases New Song Kiss The Go-Goat. 12 September 2019. Kerrang!. 20 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Listen To Ghost's New EP, Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic. 13 September 2019. Kerrang!. 20 September 2019.
  8. Web site: Ghost - Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Limited Edition 7. Loma Vista Recordings. 20 September 2019.
  9. Web site: Official Vinyl Singles Chart. . 4 October 2019. 6 October 2019.
  10. Kerrang! Rock Chart, Kerrang!, issue 1793, page 15, Cover date: 5 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Ghost's 'Mary On A Cross' Goes Viral On TikTok, Experiences Surge In Streams. Daly. Rhian. 19 August 2022. uDiscover Music. en-US. 22 August 2022.
  12. Web site: Ghost Goes Viral On TikTok And, Naturally, Fan Reaction Is Mixed. Alleva. Dan. 19 August 2022. Metal Injection. en-US. 22 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Ghost Share 'Slowed + Reverb' Version Of Viral Smash 'Mary On A Cross' . Will . Schube . . 29 August 2022 . 16 September 2022.
  14. Web site: Ghost Just Earned Their First Song on Billboard's Hot 100 Song Chart. Schaffner. Lauryn. 20 September 2022. Loudwire. 2 March 2023.
  15. Web site: Ghost Debut Video for 3-Year-Old Song After It Goes Viral on the Internet. Childers. Chad. 14 December 2022. Loudwire. 2 March 2023.
  16. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 5 September 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1696. 4. September 20, 2022.
  17. Billboard Canadian Hot 100 – Week of September 24, 2022. Billboard. September 20, 2022.
  18. Web site: Top Singles (Week 37, 2022). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. September 21, 2022.
  19. Billboard Global 200 – Week of September 24, 2022. Billboard. September 20, 2022.
  20. Web site: IFPI Charts . ifpi.gr . September 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220916125323/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html . September 20, 2022.
  21. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. https://web.archive.org/web/20220907134231/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. September 7, 2022. September 20, 2022.
  22. Web site: 2022 36-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. September 9, 2022. September 20, 2022.
  23. Web site: VG-lista – Singel 2022 uke 37. VG-lista. September 20, 2022.
  24. Web site: ČNS IFPI. IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202236 into search.. September 20, 2022.
  25. Hot 100: Week of September 24, 2022. Billboard. September 20, 2022.
  26. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of September 24, 2022. Billboard. September 21, 2022.
  27. Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022). Billboard. 2 December 2022.

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