Ghost SSE Hydro, Glasgow 18 November 2019

The fact that Ghost have progressed from the O2 ABC last time in Glasgow to the vast SSE Hydro this time shows how much their popularity has grown over the last couple of years. The merchandise was flying off the shelves. Yes, the top tier of seating has been blocked off tonight, but this is still a very big step up in crowd numbers. The more commercial ‘Prequelle’ has clearly widened their fan base.

An established support act could have boosted numbers even more. Goth death metalers Tribulation and stoner rockers All Them Witches didn’t appear to offer much for the majority of the audience.

Having seen Ghost win over Metallica’s crowd in the summer - they smashed it in Manchester - I was really keen to see them again with with their full stage show and extended set.

It starts very strongly with ‘Rats’, ‘Absolution’, ‘Faith’ and ‘Mary On A Cross’, the first of two new songs tonight from the ‘Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic’ EP. The momentum built up was then lost to some extent with a guitar duel which was a bit too long and a bit too pantomime. This was the first of a few unnecessary moments, most of which were designed to allow frontman Cardinal Copia to change outfits. Did we need the cloaked characters with lanterns, the Cardinal on a tricycle (Killer Dwarves did that years ago) and quite so many instrumental sections? I’d rather they’d added another song or two. They have plenty more killer tracks to pick from.

But perhaps I’m nit picking. This was still a fantastic show and the band play the songs to perfection. Highlights of the middle part of the show were ‘Ritual’, ‘Year Zero’, the chugging ‘Mummy Dust’ and surely the best (and only?) satanic power ballad ever, ‘He Is’. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

The main set closes with crossover hit ‘Dance Macabre’, which has just about everyone nodding/dancing/singing/clapping along. No delay before we’re treated to one last classic, ‘Square Hammer’. The band then gathered together centre stage to soak up the adulation from the crowd.

All considered, a great night!