Ghost @ O2 Academy (Leeds, UK) on March 28, 2017 [Photos & Show Review]

When it comes to the live experience, there are some bands out there who are determined that their fanbase deserve to be treated to more than “just another gig”. One of those bands is Ghost who treat a packed house at the O2 Academy in Leeds to a truly unforgettable night as part of their “Popestar” UK tour.

Led by the mesmerizing Papa Emeritus, the Swedish doom band deliver wave after wave of their haunting doom hymns including crowd favourites like “Cirice” taken from their 2015 album Meliora and the dramatic “Year Zero” from 2013’s Infestissumam offering. From the moment he appears at the rear of the stage for opener “Square Hammer”, Emeritus commands the attention of the entire venue gliding from side to side as his anonymous bandmates churn out their pop-infused doom. It’s hypnotizing to watch and, as Emeritus introduces the slightly confused looking “Sisters Of Sin” before “Body& Blood”, the congregation amassed at the barrier become part of what quickly turns into a religious experience for many of the gathered Ghost hordes.