Swedish metal band Ghost have taken a break from Catholic Clergy-styled devil worship to record a EP of covers with Dave Grohl, leading off with the titular Roky Erickson song, "If You Have Ghosts."
While the EP is not set to release until next month, "If You Have Ghosts" provides a great preview of what to expect. The 1981 original, a psychedelic track of distorted guitars, is cleaned up in the Ghost version, replacing the shreding with cleaner, melodic riffs while keeping the dark mood of Erickson's version through the heavy drums and bass. The violin intro makes the cover definitively Ghost, transforming the psychedelic haunt into a heavy metal dirge.
Dave Grohl's production influence on the track is easy to spot, with the faster drum beat and the classic rock guitar solos feeling a little bit more like they were lifted from a Foo Fighters track than a Ghost original. It will be interesting to see how the band handles the eclectic mix of New-Wave and Dance hits in the track list, including ABBA's "I'm a Marionette," Army of Lovers' "Crucified," and Depeche Mode's "Waiting for the Night." For now, "If You Have Ghosts" proves Ghost's skill at making a borrowed piece all their own.
Pre-order "If You Have Ghost" from the band's website.
Source: Ghost's Official Youtube Channel
