Band:	Ghost
Album:	Infestissumam
Style:	Hard rock, Heavy metal
Release date:	April 2013

01. Infestissumam
02. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
03. Secular Haze
04. Jigolo Har Megiddo
05. Ghuleh / Zombie Queen
06. Year Zero
07. Body And Blood
08. Idolatrine
09. Depth Of Satan's Eyes
10. Monstrance Clock
11. La Mantra Mori [deluxe edition bonus]
12. I'm A Marrionette [ABBA cover] [deluxe edition bonus]

Who are Ghost B.C. and what makes their music so appealing? To be honest, when I heard their debut album I didn't think much of these questions. All I thought was that the dark aura of Mercyful Fate around their thinly concealed heart nabbed from Blue Öyster Cult tunes like "Nosferatu" was decades too late. Listening now to their second effort Infestissumam is like having a conversation with the misunderstood Casper the friendly ghost, if he were the head of a Satanic cult. Their sound is actually readily accessible, as it turns out, and completely inoffensive, if you aren't deterred by the devil fixation.

When a band's music so closely connects with their unique image it can become difficult not to become mystified when their sound changes, even if it does so in the subtlest of ways. They may have a new vocalist or "Papa", dubbed Emeritus II, but the presentation of the ghoulish gathering formerly known as Ghost remains charismatic as it matches their music exceptionally well with the eerie sounds lurking beneath. The synthetic seductions of their organ keys and psychedelic affection make all their mischievous blasphemes quite endearing.

For fans of their debut this one is not as heavy or edgy since the synths really take control. Close attention in the production is still there to give it a cathedral-like echo which characterises the album and in particular the highlight "Year Zero". The lead voice and secondary vocal accoutrements convey a similar air as they creepily offer up numerous catchy lines.

Yet, Infestissumam doesn't have the same occult feeling as the debut and tracks like "Idolatrine" are happy-go-lucky in a jovial bounce of joint drum and synth patterns. Such sections as those issued by the hazy guitars which lumber through "Monstrance Clock" constitute the heavier moments as much of the album lacks a continual metal edge.

This sophomore is simplistic in approach and rather transparent in terms of rhythmic qualities. The longevity of the songwriting will likely depend upon how much heavy metal you're expecting and the grasp of it is quite loose. Yet, it is a more playful endeavour as it explores a number of hooky rock avenues and it's easy to succumb to the devilish dance of "Secular Haze", the piano accompanied whispers followed by surf rock waves of "Ghuleh/Zombie Queen" and the spiraling riffs as you traverse the "Depth Of Satan's Eyes."

This album came as a surprise to me as its strongest quality is the immediate pull the songwriting seems to have. It's hard to resist initially, after all, nothing gets all the Lucifer love moving than an engaging beat but the music is still reliant on image to see it through. Although catchiness is the game and Ghost B.C. are playing it well.