The Ritual: Performance and Religion in the Concerts of Metal Band Ghost

This piece is a large research project completed on April 9th, 2024 for my Research Writing class at Emerson College that showcases my ability to tackle interdisciplinary topics such religion and sociology.

The paper presents an analysis of the performances of Swedish heavy metal band Ghost. The band inverts certain theatrical or ritualistic elements traditionally seen or associated with religious practices, and then exploits and exaggerates them to make a larger critique about organized religion and society. This paper considers not only the relationship between music and religion, but also the relationship between music and the performative aspects of religion as they aid in the expression of a larger message or formation of a larger identity. To do this, I use my own personal attendance of a Ritual, a Ghost concert in August of 2023, to draw examples of how specifically Ghost uses theatrical and performative elements to convey their message. I then connect my findings to pre-existing research in the fields of psychology, sociology, and religion studies to explore the reasoning behind why these performative aspects work, calling upon theories of pseudo-religious experiences, collective effervescence, and interactive ritual. Additionally, I conclude this essay by briefly exploring the implications of these findings and what they could mean for modern religious practices, consumption of media, and the world of performance as a whole.