Metal Anarchy

Last night (August 2), I attended the first date of Ghost’s “Re-Imperatour” U.S. run with Amon Amarth in Concord, CA and it was a killer show from two of Sweden’s finest acts.

The night kicked off with a thunderous set from Amon Amarth. The group were firing on all cylinders as they captured the audience with their trademarked brand of Viking metal. The band’s musicianship was impeccable as they took everyone on a journey to Valhalla and back through an immersive experience featuring epic battles, Norse gods, and more. Some highlights from their set included “Deceiver Of The Gods,” which featured an appearance from Loki, “Put Your Back Into The Oar,” which featured the group’s famous Viking row, “Raise Your Horns,” which saw everyone participating with their heavy metal devil horns, and “Twilight Of The Thunder God,” which featured a fight with a giant sea serpent.

After Amon Amarth finished up, it was time for the headliners of the evening, Ghost! The band’s performance began with the “Impera” intro track, “Imperium,” before the curtains dropped to reveal the Nameless Ghouls. From there, the group launched right into “Kaisarion” before Papa Emeritus IV took the stage much to the delight of the crowd. The whole set was musically and visually stunning with the Ghouls executing their parts flawlessly as Papa led the charge with his unique vocals and theatrical costume changes upon a stage resembling a satanic church. All of that combined with cool pyro, blasts of confetti, and humorous stage banter made for a night to remember. Some highlights from their set included “Ritual,” which has been a staple in the band’s shows since the beginning, “Year Zero,” which featured an insane amount of firepower, “Miasma,” which featured an undead Papa Nihil on saxophone, “Kiss The Go-Goat,” which served as a “goodbye kiss,” and “Square Hammer,” which closed the concert in a monumental fashion.