Seven Inches of Satanic Panic

Seven Inches of Satanic Panic is meant to introduce the new persona of Papa Nihil incarnated by Tobias Forge, the lead singer and mastermind behind occult rock band Ghost. This release is inspired by psychedelic rock music from the sixties that could come straight from the soundtrack of a William Grefé movie. This unusual approach makes for a rather controversial release that might not be appreciated by those who enjoyed Ghost's dark, heavy and occult side but could please to fans of classic rock music with cool, dreamy and uplifting vibes.

The opening ''Kiss the Go-Goat'' is based upon simplistic songwriting and a silly but quite catchy chorus. The quirky, psychedelic and melodic instrumentation is certainly danceable. The track works as an unusual experiment but might feel out of context if played during a regular live show of the band. ''Mary on the Cross'' is playful, mellow and floating. The chorus is less poignant but the musicianship and songwriting is a little more adventurous. Especially the keyboard sounds bring the spirit of the late sixties to life.

In the end, Ghost's Seven Inches of Satanic Panic works as an experimental release that should please fans of psychedelic rock music of the late sixties. It's certainly interesting to hear the project try out some new soundscapes even though hippie culture might not be the cup of tea of numerous fans of the unique group. Two songs of this genre make for a brief yet interesting exploration but the next album should have some more depth, energy and uniqueness again. At the end of the day, this release is for avid collectors and die-hard fans only.