Live Review: Ghost - Spektrum, Oslo
24th May 2025
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
Ghost’s Skeletour World Tour has been making waves across Europe, as we already attested from the Birmingham show, and so we headed out to the Spektrum in Oslo to see the band round out the tour in style, in the most intimate of the venues for this run.
From the moment the house lights dimmed and the curtain dropped, the production pulled the audience into Ghost’s twisted liturgy. A towering huge 'G' - the “Grucifix” - lighting rig lit up the arena, smoke curled around the Namelss Ghouls, and as the lights shifted from deep reds to celestial blues.
The latest Papa, Papa V Perpetua – was the high priest of the evening. He is less talkative, less interactive that past Papa’s, his audience participation decreased from past tours with a focus more on the show and the production. His performance walked the line between pantomime villain and rock messiah, conducting the crowd with a wry smile and priestly gestures. Swapping costumes with theatrical aplomb, he remained the centre of attention even during the show’s most elaborate set pieces.
The Nameless Ghouls were razor-sharp, trading guitar harmonies and synth layers with near-mechanical precision, all while keeping their identities hidden behind their new look darkened masks. Their movements were tight, almost ritualistic, syncing with the lighting cues to perfection.
Musically, the setlist spanned the band’s catalogue while weaving in tracks from their latest album Skeletá. The newer songs introduced tonight leaned into a more introspective and progressive direction, with haunting vocal layers, atmospheric build-ups, and darker lyrical themes. While the audience clearly came for the anthemic choruses and bombastic hits, the fresh material was received with enthusiasm, not least because of how seamlessly it fit into Ghost’s ever-expanding mythology.
Mid set the explosions to end ‘Year Zero’ saw the stained glass windows shattered to be left with a star filled sky as a back drop for the near romantic ‘He Is’. Artistry and theatrics at its very best.
Closing the main body of the set with ‘Monstrance Clock’ may seem a little odd, but the repeating “come together, together as one” sung in unison by 15,000 Norwegians was a subtle message to all of us in this divided world right now.
The encore saw Papa V come out of his shell a little and interact with the crowd some more. ‘Mary On A Cross’ led a wonderful sing along into ‘Dance Macabre’ which had the whole pit bouncing. Of course only ‘Square Hammer’ could close out the evening, and indeed the European leg of the tour.
If there was ever doubt that Ghost could fill arenas without sacrificing their eerie intimacy or their tongue-in-cheek grandeur, this whole tour has proved otherwise. The restricting of phones, whilst objected to by some, actually allows the whole audience to immerse themselves in the show without distraction. And the experience itself is so much better for it.
Ghost will now rest up before the North American leg of the Skeletour but expect them back in Europe soon, for next year, without doubt, they will be headlining all the major summer festivals!
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
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