Live Review: Ghost, Witchgrinder

It's difficult to think of a band suitable to support Ghost - the Swedish metal band with an overtly theatrical show and mysterious, masked band members. Tonight, local band Witchgrinder have been chosen for the unenviable task. Undaunted, they put on a great show, powering through a set of crunching industrial metal and getting the crowd well and truly warmed up for the headliner.

Instead of the usual music, hymns are played during the changeover, setting the church-like atmosphere for Ghost. Soon enough, the lights drop and the hymns turn into the chanting of Infestissumam as the Nameless Ghouls take their place on stage and ready their instruments. The five figures, all in blood-red hooded robes with their faces covered, play through the rest of the song and start Per Aspera Ad Inferi as the singer, Papa Emeritus II, appears onstage amidst billowing smoke and wild cheers from the crowd. Emeritus is dressed as a sort of black metal pope - dark red robes, black gloves and skull make-up; his robes and mitre (“the Pope hat” according to a nearby crowd member) adorned with the Ghost logo.

“Welcome to our first proper Australian ritual,” Emeritus announces, introducing Ritual. Unfortunately, the Ghoul plays the wrong riff, forcing the band to restart the song. It's the only slip-up tonight from the Ghouls, who are otherwise impeccable musicians. A recording of a wailing baby leads into an almost funereal cover of Here Comes The Sun: proof that even the devil is a Beatles fan. Year Zero is the definite highlight of the night, with its thundering drums, church bells and a chorus that has the whole crowd shouting “Hail Satan” and throwing horns up. A cover of Roky Erickson's If You Have Ghosts finishes the main set on a lighter note.

They waste little time returning to the stage for an encore. The slow-burning Ghuleh/Zombie Queen is perfect for the encore, building up to its big finale. “Yes, that is a real motherfucker of a song,” Emeritus remarks after the cheering it receives. He then tells everyone to look out for the singalong part of the following song, Monstrance Clock, the final song of the night. Arms, fists and horns are in the air everywhere as the whole crowd sings the chorus - “Come together as one, come together for Lucifer's son.” A fitting and somewhat heart-warming end to tonight's ritual.