Cover Voyage

Ghost (or Ghost B.C. as they are known in the U.S.) are a band from Sweden that has become well known for their onstage theatrics and atmospheric music. With just a handful of releases to their name, the band has managed to share stages with acts such as Avenged Sevenfold, Opeth and Iron Maiden. Their success is warranted, however, as they are easily recognizable and possess a distinct sound of their own. Though best known for original music, they have never been strangers to covers. Their latest EP, If You Have Ghost, contains four cover songs and a live track.

Dave Grohl participates in some of these cover songs, in which he provides some drums, rhythm guitar and production work, as well. Though they have always loved covering songs, their song choices often throw people off, as they are odd selections for a satanic metal band. Undeniably, happy upbeat pop music has deeply influenced Ghost and on this EP, they let those influences shine as brightly as they can.

The four covers are “If You Have Ghost” by Roky Erickson, “I’m A Marionette” by ABBA, “Crucified” by Army Of Lovers and Depeche Mode’s “Waiting For The Night.” The EP ends with a live version of the original song “Secular Haze,” originally released on this year’s Infestissumam. All the covers are extremely well executed, passionately sung and beautifully rearranged. “If You Have Ghost” is the best track on here, as it is the most atmospheric and memorable. The best thing about the selections on the EP is that they are given a full “Ghost makeover,” as they sound very little like the originals. This is a positive aspect because it gives the band something different to offer. The live version of “Secular Haze” is admittedly a bit disappointing, though, and seems to serve more as filler than anything else.

To sum up, If You Have Ghost is a strong EP that features ambitious covers and aims for something more distinctive. It’s worth hearing even if the original tracks don’t sound appealing to the group’s typical fanbase.