Swedish rockers Ghost are set to release their fifth album, “Impera,” on March 11. Recently, frontman Tobias Forge revealed that the band’s new song, “Grift Wood,” takes aim at former U.S. vice president Mike Pence. “Let’s just say that it can be about someone like him who is ready to serve his entire life’s work in pursuit of power, and then justify it by claiming some sort of a religious connection,” Forge said. “He’s a great example of someone like that. Every basement he has reached, he miraculously finds a new one. It’s one of the most evil things I’ve ever seen — tricking people into believing that they’re on their side.”
Forge previously told Kerrang Magazine that Pence stands as a symbol for people of all times, but his message is hypocritical. “He’s known as this sort of Bible thumper, believing that he has strong faith, and he’s just this awful, awful person in any way. He tries to tell the world that he serves God, that he’s part of the good side. Whereas at the end of the day, the only thing he wants is power. But it doesn’t have to necessarily be all about him. It’s about people like him: a lot of politicians, lot of preachers, a lot of clergymen throughout the history of time.”
Ghost recently released a video for the record’s latest single, “Call Me Little Sunshine.” In March of 2020, Ghost introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character that fronts the band for “Impera.” Forge performed as a new Papa Emeritus on each of Ghost’s first three albums. The band also just completed a co-headlining U.S. tour with Volbeat.
Forge said Ghost’s religious imagery is rooted in his childhood. “As a very imaginative kid and grown-up, I just have a natural sort of gravity towards history and religion and stories. The same way that I’m interested in ‘Star Wars’, I found The Bible compelling. My mom is and has always been very interested in art, so where she has never really been religious, she is extremely liberal, and there was no censorship at home in terms of culture … She always used to work in art, and she was always very keen on taking me to church — not for mass, but for art. She was interested in the artifacts. I think it’s from spending a lot of time in cathedrals and churches.”
