At the September 30th 2017 gig in Gothenburg Papa Emeritus III is dragged from the stage by suit clad men and a previously unseen Papa takes the stage, introducing himself to the crowd in Italian, “I am Papa Emeritus Zero. The party is over and now a new era begins. The Middle Ages begin now.” 1 The first song confirmed for the album was Rats. While it would appear that the song was quite literal in being about the rodents that spread the Plague, the song is in fact more of a metaphor for how something would spread, whether it be a disease, panic, information, ideas or religion. When pressed on the subject, Ghost have admitted that the song is about trial by social media and how in the wake of the lawsuit being announced, the man behind Ghost was judged by many fans and demonised. 5

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Prequelle’s artwork was leaked in early April 2018 and once again was produced by Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak (not Abiguiem Bielak as Tivo’s Allmusic database credits him) who created the covers and interior artwork for Infestissumam and Meliora. Breaking from previous tradition, the album cover wasn’t a reference to a movie but was seemingly a tribute to the Sepultura album Bestial Devastation.

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Dies Irae was traditionally used during Requiem masses (funeral services) but during 1969 and 1970 the Vatican revised the standards for masses, eliminating many traditional parts of masses unchanged since the Middle Ages that referenced the negative aspects of Old Testament Christianity such as judgement and fear. Masses from that point on were to emphasise hope, forgiveness and the more positive aspects of Catholicism. The Sibyl referred to in the passage were ten female oracles who directly spoke the word of God. On the 17th of August, Ghost’s front man hosts the Swedish radio show Sommar i P1 under his real name with accompanying photographs of him unmasked. I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come and see!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. ( Revelation 6:1-2) Metal Hammer magazine hits stands on April 26th, the cover features Cardinal Copia holding Papa Emeritus III’s severed head.

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Chapter Two: The Cardinal is uploaded to YouTube on April 6th 2018. In this video we are introduced to Cardinal Copia as Sister Imperator puts him forward as the new leader of Ghost; a suggestion Papa Nihil objects to as the bloodline has not been broken for “nigh a millennia”. With Papa Nihil out of children and Cardinal Copia being the most senior (plus also holding the second highest number of Employee of the Month Awards), Nihil relents and appoints the Cardinal as Ghost’s new leader with an altered version of the Dies Irae hymn: I grow stronger (Then you’ll see the light) Papa Nihil has sax appeal as he performs the Miasma saxophone part. Miasma Clear/Silver swirl (Limited, 500 copies in Germany, total could be more) available from hmv.com, jbhifi.com, velvetmusic.nl, emp.de (members only!) Papa III seems to have put on some weight since stopping touring, coincidentally a former Ghoul also put on weight by his own admission after stopping touring. The ultimate guide to Prequelle, the fourth album by Swedish band Ghost with no spoilers to ruin the band mythos.When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come and see!” I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8) Revolver Mag Online publishes the first ever English interview with the man behind Ghost using his real name on February 2nd 2018. From this point onwards, he uses his real name in all interviews. 2