Review GHOST “Rite Here Rite Now”

Ghost is one of the bands that has made one of the most impressive rises to the top. Starting out as a mysterious band, the outfit gradually revealed some of its secrets, including the fact that Ghost is the brainchild of Swedish vocalist Tobias Forge.

Over time, Ghost has evolved from an arcane group into a theatrical rock act that appeals to a wide audience. Still rooted in rock, Forge and the Nameless Ghouls added more and more catchy melodies to their music, giving the band an extra commercial push. At the same time, Ghost has been able to keep their early fans connected to the band, as it is still well-crafted rock music that Forge and his bandmates offer.

2024 marks a new chapter for the band. In June, the band presented a movie called “Rite Here Rite Now” and of course such an endeavor fits perfectly for a band like Ghost. The “Chapters” series has already shown that the band has a cinematic talent that also shines through during their live shows. The “Chapters” clips are now part of the “Rite Here Rite Now” experience, and to enrich the result, Ghost recorded two shows the outfit played at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California in September 2023.

In front of an enthusiastic audience, the band performed a 21-song set that provides the material for the musical aspect of the movie, and as usual, every movie has its soundtrack.

The “Rite Here Rite Now” soundtrack contains 17 songs from these two nights in Inglewood and it offers a good impression of the shows in California.

The live album contains a broader spectrum of the considerable creative efforts of the band in general and Forge in particular. What’s missing though are the two songs from the debut, “Con Clavi Con Dio” and “Ritual,” both of which were played but didn’t make it onto the live release. The same goes for “Year Zero” from the second record. What’s on the album though is the heavy pounding “Cirice”, the rocking “Rats” and the atmospheric “Respite on the Spitalfields”. The newer songs are the ones that represent the more pop-oriented direction of the band, with the dense “Watcher in the Sky” and the sugar-sweet “Spillways” being just two examples of the band’s latest musical direction.

One song on the album is not part of the live setup. “The Future is a Foreign Land” is the new Ghost song, the real new thing on the album. Forge continues on the road to radio-friendly rock music and he does it in style. “The Future is Foreign Land” is a pop song with some rock references. What makes it special is the musical finesse and the talent to create addictive melodies.

“Rite Here Rite Now” is a release that summarizes the creative achievements of Ghost in a good way and is much more exciting than the usual “best of” compilations. Fans will appreciate the album as it captures two special nights related to the movie, and for those who are not familiar with the Ghost story, this release is an excellent way to catch up.