As fans approached the intuit dome and saw the lights a bright purple to pay homage to the Skeletour, you could hear the bands single “Satanized” playing complete with an inflatable Papa V to greet all who attended. Fans dressed as their favorite papa or their favorite interpretation of the bands nun. The mood was both of excitement and bittersweet, especially following the announcement of a hiatus on the horizon following the Skeletour.
Ghost fans have come to know very well what to expect from a Ritual, and the amazing two hour performance on February 23rd was no exception. The band does not hold back when it comes to production with a multi-story stage, gigantic light up grucifix towering over all, massive LED screens covered in stained glass imagery, and of course matching pyrotechnics to accentuate the story being told so elegantly by Papa V, the Ghouls and Ghoulettes that accompany him on stage.
Beginning the set list with “Peacefield” and “Lachryma,” last year’s Skeleta leads the opening, but the hits continue to fly quickly at the signing and chanting crowd filling every empty space in the massive cavern of an the intuit dome arena. At around the halfway through in the ritual, familiar hits “Cirice” and “Satanized” are brought forth, with “Darkness at the Heart of my Love” making an appearance unlike during the show at the Kia Forum during the Impera Ritual.
Finally, everything is capped off by the bands Tik Tok sensation “Mary on a Cross,” “Dance Macabre,” and “Square Hammer,” songs that leave the crowd feeling bittersweet over possibly seeing their triumphant heroes for possibly the last time before an indefinite break. Mr. Forge also took note to introduce the Ghouls and Ghoulettes by name before completing the show, a very special gesture that of course will be appreciated by the dedicated fans who have invested the band’s lore down to the last minute detail.
If this is the last we will see of Ghost for the near future we at least know that they have given us everything before closing this current chapter, and theres nothing more than we can ask for from them.
We can all only hope that what Mr. Forge mentioned during the first set break that “eventually” he would return to Los Angeles in 4, 5 or maybe 6 years does not come to fruition and we are able to celebrate with him again sooner rather than later. No matter how long we are to wait for the next major announcement, we can at appreciate the incredible shows from the Skeletour, and no matter what happens next we will always be able triumphantly declare that we were there.
