Defenders of the Faith III

November 14, 2011 Oslo Spectrum in Oslo, Norway

November 16, 2011 Jäähalli in Helsinki, Finland

November 18, 2011 Hovet in Stockholm, Sweden

November 19, 2011 Scandinavium in Gothenburg Sweden

November 21, 2011 Arena Ludwigsburg in Ludwigsburg, Germany

November 22, 2011 Stadhalle in Offenbach am Main, Germany

November 23, 2011 Zenith in Munich, Germany

November 24, 2011 Festsaal Kreuzberg in Berlin, Germany

November 25, 2011 Turbinehalle in Oberhausen, Germany

November 26, 2011 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in Hamburg, Germany

November 27, 2011 Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium

November 28, 2011 L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris, France

November 30, 2011 Poppodium 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands

December 1, 2011 Southampton Guildhall in Southampton, England

December 2, 2011 Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England

December 3, 2011 Manchester Acadamy 1, University of Manchester in Manchester, England

December 4, 2011 O2 Academy Brixton in London, England

December 6, 2011 O2 Academy Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland

December 7, 2011 O2 Academy Newcastle in Newcastle, England

December 8, 2011 Plymoth Pavilions in Plymoth, England

In researching this tour, I was unable to figure out if the Defenders of the Faith III tour only encompassed the 7 England dates that are listed on the poster, or if it included the 13 earlier dates in Europe. The 13 European dates were not included on the poster for Defenders of the Faith III, but it was the same lineup of bands and a review for the Helsinki stop uses the Defenders of the Faith Tour when discussing the show.^[1]

I have currently chosen to include all of the dates under the Defenders of the Faith III tour heading. If more information comes to light at a future date that clarifies what happened here, I will revise the entries.

In Oslo, Ghost struggled with their sound, but still charmed the audience with their devilish ways:

“Ghost, 1925: Why on earth don't Ghost sell those pope hats as merch? Don't they WANT to make money? My friend Frode, who has arrived with Ole Johan at this time, would have surely bought one and strutted around Youngstorget wearing Ghost's hat fashion over his nice Cumshots tee. Oh well. Ghost struggles a bit with the sound, and is definitely the odd band out, and although Elizabeth and Rotual work perfectly well as resounding doom-meets-classic-rock anthems, it becomes more funny and amusing than atmospheric when the monk-robed men turn to the guitar technicians and shake their heads at the lack of sound.” -Asbjørn Slettemark (via Google Translate)^[2]

“The next band out is Ghost. The band of course seems out of place in this setting, as the style and music are totally different from the other four bands. Ghost undoubtedly has the grimmest image of the evening. To the chanting sound of sacred organ tones, four grim reapers and a high priest in skull makeup take the stage. Personally, I think Ghost's album is just as enjoyable, but live they unfortunately do not live up to expectations. The sound is far too muddy and the vocalist is not convincing either. Considering that the band is relatively new, the benefit of the doubt should be given to them. I'll try again next time, when the band has a few more years under their belt.” -Robin Syversen (via Google Translate)^[3]

The sound was reported to be much improved at the next tour stop, perhaps because it was in HELLsinki:

“Next, the stage is to be taken over by the Swedish band Ghost. As usual, everywhere is filled with smoke, fog and dim light. One photographer recognizes a certain smell in the incense that reminds him of his student days. Must have been a devout Orthodox massman...?

Founded in 2008, the doom/black/prog ministry, which released its first album last year and consists of anonymous Star Wars jawa elves, spreads its satanic gospel by relying on the singer's sprained majestic papal figure. The soup is very successful and the atmosphere is excellent, with catchy melodic passages hooking the listener. Sometimes they sing in Latin and finally "chiitos a lot Helsinki" in a very creepy and satanic voice. There are already a bit more people there, but still not many. The sounds during these two orchestras have been excellent. This is not something that can be taken for granted at the Ice Hall.” -Janne Pappila (via Microsoft Translate)^[1]

In Ludwigsburg, Ghost shined like a Morning Star:

“The most dazzling appearance was undoubtedly Ghost with their stage show, which was reminiscent of a satanic ritual” -Ann Buster (via Microsoft Translate)^[4]

In Berlin, Ghost did a headline show for Festsaal Kreuzberg and brought their tourmates In Solitude and Insense with them. Ghost dazzled those in attendance with their pomp and circumstance:

“So it went on with heavy metal of a different kind. I hadn't heard GHOST yet, but I had already read a lot about them. They already had the Hammer of DOOM Festival on their schedule, where they performed last year.

Today: Brilliant, rousing intro! And the musicians actually came with masks and cowls. I wouldn't have believed it. And then this inverted Celtic cross. I wear these things more often, but I hadn't seen it like this before. Organ and cymbals began impressively. A majestic singer was more than cheered and welcomed. The audience immediately joined in and was extremely confident in the lyrics. I could only hide there.

The first row on stage was dominated by vocals and guitar. The rest crowded together at the back. Choral interplay: listeners (and fellow singers) vs. dad. His upstretched, pleading hands gave the message of the texts a dimensioning effect. The transitions between the songs had a musical effect like exorcising the devil. Then I heard the Here Comes the Sun. But as a GHOST non-connoisseur, I wouldn't have expected that. Quickly got a beer and continued to listen and see. The visual effect was really brilliant. And I, idiot, don't even have anything to take pictures. I don't think there was a corner in the shop where people weren't enthusiastic about this - very sublimely performed - music. With Ritual GHOST concluded their evening magic - unfortunately without an encore.

Then there was the red wine fair; for me, however, there is still a pilsner. To take the album "OPUS EPONYMOUS" with me was the duty of the evening for me personally. In the office the next day, however, without watching the musicians, the music seemed a bit laxer. More distance. Personally, I really enjoy watching the musicians on stage. With GHOST this is almost mandatory.” -Öko (via Microsoft Translate)^[5]

Ghost failed to charm as well in Oberhausen, although even in the stern German crowd they had their defenders:

“...and especially GHOST, one of the most hyped bands of the moment. With their 70s hard rock and, well, a certain kind of appearance, the Swedes don't fit into the line-up at all, and are met with boos and raised middle fingers during almost every break. And rightly so, because nobody needs the pathetic papal poses and zero communication with the audience. Sure, it's part of the band's nasty occult image, but it has no place on such a big stage, and especially with such a band line-up. It doesn't help that songs like "Elizabeth" and "Ritual" are played to perfection and sung with crystal clear clarity by the lead singer. In any case, they completely deserve the beating GHOST will probably receive every night of the tour. The crowd appeal of the band was probably overestimated a bit. Maybe one or two fanboys from the print media will finally get it... [mh]

Objection, Mr. Colleague! Everyone involved should have known beforehand that Satan's spooky gang, with their archaic sounds, would have a tough time in this zeitgeist environment. But how difficult it is for GHOST is still a bit surprising. The few cowl-wearing band members and their entourage form small pockets of applause amidst a crowd of boos and middle fingers raised toward the stage – a beautiful, tolerant metal world… The music sounds much better live, with more drive, magic, and radiance than on the album, where I would agree with them. The point of contention and attack, besides his slightly too dreamy vocals, is and remains the appearance of Papa Emeritus I., whose shiny cape and (seen from the center of the hall, spectacularly good) skull face paint are nothing compared to his prancing and floating across the stage, which not only softens the spookiness but almost has overtones of real-life satire. Musically, it was a pleasant surprise for me, but technically, it was borderline mediocre, with the lack of communication fitting perfectly – attempts at animation would have been quite inappropriate not only in the unfriendly environment, but also due to the nature of the music. And soon, I'll no longer assume that a predominantly young audience will behave in an unchildlike manner. [mba]

Let's be honest: after the – in my opinion – disastrous performance by Skeletor and co., there's only one thing to win.[mh]” -Michael Hauptmann and Michael Bach (via Google Translate)^[6]

Paris was taken in by the satanic spectacle:

“That's when GHOST takes the stage with an arrival worthy of a horror movie. Dressed in black tunics with large hoods and a singer as a skeletal bishop, the musicians of GHOST impose a somewhat peculiar atmosphere on the room, dark and episcopal. This atmosphere seems to be relatively well received even if it does not entirely seduce the public. The sound without being huge, is clear and allows you to appreciate the melodies of GHOST which without being a group of technicians, has been able to create a particular universe. A performance that is quite honest for a first part and that fulfills its role perfectly.” -xWebbYx(via Microsoft Translate)^[9]

In Tilburg, some were grateful for the chance to worship with Ghost once more, dedicated to observe even the most minute changes in the ritual:

“[...]The singer has some very characteristic moves and a very recognizable voice. Compared to the performance on Fortarock (july 2011) he was a bit hoarse. I'm absolutely sure he's really singing and not playbacking, as someone once said. They use a backingtape for harmony vocals, but the rest is done by Papa Emeritus himself. I thought the Nameless Ghouls were a lot more expressive than the concert (@Fortarock) we attended. Anyway, again it was highly enjoyable.” -ovd806^[7]

The memories of the night persisted in the minds of the faithful 14 years later in 2025, reddit user sjorsrothman shared a poster, ticket, and setlist from that night[8] on the r/GhostBC reddit prompting more devoted to reminisce in the comments:

“The good old days eh! this tour was amazing, i also got a Signed rise to remain CD, which i still have, for being in the first 10 to 'check in' on facebook (remember that old people?), even then i feel like people werent doing this because it was already packed when we arrived and i noticed like only one other person had done it so me and my two mates both checked in and all 3 of us got one. This was also my intro to ghost and we had all had some brownies before we arrived and turned up to ghost playing with smoke everywhere and a red strobe light going off, and the ghouls all in those old costumes, it was intense, and ive been a fan ever since!” -AngryDuckFTW^[8]

“Ghost, Rise to Remain and Trivium were awesome! Wasn't the biggest In Flames fan back then and to add insult to injury I got punched in the face by a druggie who thought I stole his earring... But the Trivium fan club meet & greet was cool as fuck!” -das_maz^[8]

"“I was there too. Didn’t know ghost so when they started I and I saw them expected serious death metal. I was pleasantly surprised!! I was there for trivium and in flames” -Character_Shirt_4734^[8]

As December began, so did the UK leg of the Defenders of Faith III tour.

"Prepare for the siege on the U.K. that is the 2011 Metal Hammer Defenders Of The Faith tour," says Trivium's Matt Heafy. "This is what it's all about: an epic night to celebrate all that is glorious about the diverse world of metal. This bill is a must-see tour and has something every fan of modern metal can enjoy." -GuitarWorld.com^[10]

It appears that sometime in the press release for this tour, The Clergy began forming a press strategy as we begin to see the first glimpses of the shadowy past when Papa Nihil lead the rituals (although Papa Nihil’s existence would not be revealed by The Clergy until much later).

The outlet RockSins would refer to Ghost as ‘re-activated’, the first clue to the wider world that this was not the first incarnation

“Also joining the trek will be the re-activated Ghost who have appeared on the scene once again in spectacular fashion during 2011 including a noteworthy performance at Download 2011” -Jamie Giberti^[11]

And Ghost garnered high-praise from Trivium’s Matt Heafy, saying in a promo-interview:

“GHOST are something special; you can feel the electricity and mystery behind Lucifer's house band. Prepare your souls for the sermon. They are a must-see.” ^[12]

The UK leg of the Defenders of the Faith III tour kicked off in the South Hampton Guildhall. For one Rise to Remain fan, it was not what they were hoping for:

“Fans suffer a tedious and agonising 20 minutes with Swedish metal band Ghost who seem to come on stage dressed to impress or perhaps dressed unusually to cover up the fact that they aren’t talented. After three years since the band has formed the anonymous front man still thinks it necessarily to keep his identity a secret. Yet again he acquires an interesting taste in clothing as he strides confidently onto the stage dressed, ironically as the pope. The band plays with the tours theme Defenders of the Faith, but their dress code doesn’t particularly make them appear clever or humorous instead they seem over the top and cliché.

Perhaps it’s time for Ghost to stop hiding behind their ghoulish outfits which quite frankly has become a boring routine, that metal god’s such as Slipknot can only get away with. The crowd comes to a standstill when they begin their repetitive, not so impressive riffs and depressingly dull and satanic vocals. It’s hard to believe this band is on after British newcomers Rise to Remain.

Metal core Rise to Remain don’t mess around with hiding their identities. They don’t attempt to look scary or try to create an eerie atmosphere. They are simply a 5 piece metal core band from London and don’t feel the need to hide it.” -Clarke^[13]

Perhaps not everyone can be as prescient about the future of metal band fashion as Wesley from The Princess Bride when he said “I think everyone will be wearing them[masks] in the future.” Certainly the growing list of metalers like Ghost, Sleep Token, President, Slaughter to Prevail, Lordi, Gwar, Carach Angren, Gaerea, Mushroomhead, Imperial Triumphant, UADA and countless others have all found their own masked space. There is as much room in music for fans who like flashy costumes with their live music as those who prefer the costume of 5 dudes on stage pretending not to care what they wear. The artfully aged band tee and strategically ripped jeans are as much of a costume as bedazzled robes.

A review from the Brixton Academy ritual sums up the struggle Ghost had creating new converts while touring with other 2011 bands:

“When the line up for Defenders Of The Faith was announced, I didn’t know much about Ghost aside from the fact that they had made a significant comeback during 2011 including what was reported to be a great performance at Download 2011. From a musical perspective, what little I did know about them seemed to make them stand out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the bands and this proved accurate in their performance. The staging was dark, evil and very effective but to say the music was not appreciated by the audience was something of an understatement. It seemed like the majority of people in attendance didn’t really know what to make of them. They received polite applause but the loudest cheer was at the end of their set as they departed which somewhat sums things up. Whilst I think it is good to put on tours with bands of different musical styles I think Ghost on this occasion were a difference too far and I don’t think they will have picked up too many new fans on this particular evening at Brixton Academy.” -Jamie Gilberti^[14]

Although Ghost had had their first (short) outing the autumn of 1969^[15], their reappearance in 2010 was just the beginning swell of classic doom metal revival at a time when metalcore was at it’s height. Their addition to a tour roster was often jarringly different from other active bands at the time, which is why, in my opinion, Ghost’s early popularity (in 2010 and beyond) started with music reviewers and other musicians who could sense the change in the tides before the revival would begin in earnest a few years later.

Plymouth Pavillion took to the sound better than Brixton, at least according to one reviewer:

“Next to emerge from the shadows of the backstage are Ghost. With Ghouls already at their stations, the man himself “Papa Emeritus” makes his entrance in a show of pomp and ceremony that wouldn’t seem out of place at a coronation. Decked out in full regalia the initial impact is impressive to these eyes, but a noticeably muted reaction to the bands arrival by a sizeable contingent of the audience seems now to be morphing into something approaching bemusement at the spectre-cal (sorry!) unfolding before them. Whether as a result of the bands satanic leanings, theatrical inclinations, or just the simple fact that they occupy a position somewhat to the south of the rest of the bill in the ear bleeding stakes, Ghost have a real battle on their hands to win this crowd over. Seemingly undaunted they press onwards, producing track after track of high quality riff driven melodic metal, while at the same time displaying a highly developed feel for the use of light and shade within the dynamics of the music. Visually absorbing, they put on a show in every sense of the word, but it’s the tunes that really matter and they have them in their locker. More and more of the crowd seem to respond positively with each new offering and by the finish it’s evident they’re leaving with more than a few new converts to the cause.” -Julian Dark^[16]

While Glasgow’s reviewer was more lukewarm:

“We arrived as Ghost were finishing their set. And wondered what the hell we were watching. Neither of us had heard of them before and it took a while to figure out which of the support acts we were watching. Ghost are weird. Musically, they were OK. Nothing special, nothing bad. What makes them stand out is their stage show. All the band members except for the lead singer wear dark robes with hoods which obscure their identities. The singer himself goes by the name Papa Emeritus and wears a cardinal’s robes with a skull mask covering his face. All very pomp and ceremony. However, their melodic style just doesn’t go with their appearance. Something heavier and slower would probably fit better. Either way, they were… different. Not somebody I’d go and see again but I’d consider turning up early to catch a full set if they’re supporting another band I’m going to see.” - Mosh^[17]

• [1]Inferno, Live: In Flames, Trivium, Ghost, Rise to Remain – Helsingin Jäähalli, 16.11.2011 by Janne Pappila
• [2]Pyro, Fantastisk helaften med In Flames i Spektrum by Asbjørn Slettemark
• [3]Eternal Terror, IN FLAMES – Oslo – Oslo Spektrum by Robin Syversen
• [4]regioactive.de, Fotos: In Flames, Trivium, Ghost, Rise To Remain und Insense live in Ludwigsburg by Ann Buster
• [5]Rockcism, Ghost in Berlin - Live Review by Öko
• [6]Bloodchamber, In Flames, Trivium, Ghost, Rise To Remain & Insense by Michael Hauptmann

Grilled Ribs, Metaltown 2011, Gothenburg by Åke

RockFoto, Ghost from Metaltown by Niklas Gustavsson