Swedish metal collective Ghost returns amped-up on “Rats,” the promo single for their highly-anticipated fourth studio album, ‘Prequelle.’

Grammy-winning, Swedish metal band Ghost is back with some serious bite. According to mastermind Tobias Forge (via Revolver), the band’s fourth studio album, Prequelle, is “loosely themed around the concept of death and doom. It’s…themed around medieval times, but … [clings] onto a lot of very current things.” Dark stuff. Even darker is the song at hand, single “Rats.” Of “Rats,” Forge tells Revolver, “It’s actually not technically about rodents.  It’s about something spreading as wildfire and completely destroying things quicker than you know.”  Still, quite dark.

“Rats” commences with a pummeling, hard-hitting groove from the start – get ready to ‘rock and roll.’  The rhythmic guitars sound athletic, while Cardinal Copia (Forge) delivers clear, commanding vocals. In addition to the compelling lead vocals, the vocal harmonies are quite impressive.  Harmonically speaking, the chord progression on the second half of the verses – the variable bridge/pre-chorus for our purposes – stands out.  Moving to the chorus, Ghost keeps things short and simple: “Them rats!”

Interestingly, the second verse gets an extended version of the chorus, still retaining the simplicity of course.  Following that second chorus, the bridge/pre-chorus section returns gloriously with different lyrics.  A fine guitar solo follows, before the return of the bridge once more.  This time, Cardinal Copia sings:

“Them filthy rodents are still coming for your souls

Never to let go

Never to let go.”

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, Ghost brings the heat on “Rats.” Based upon the information imparted by Forge to Revolver, Prequelle comes with incredibly high expectations. Is there any way that Ghost can’t live up to the hype with a promo single as strong as “Rats?”

Ghost • Prequelle • Loma Vista • Release: 6.1.18

Photo Credit: Loma Vista