The Art Of Darkness Pt. II: Infestissumam

After making a splash on the music scene with their debut album "Opus Eponymous" in 2010, as discussed in the first part of "The Art Of Darkness" Ghost quickly grabbed the attention of metal and rock enthusiasts with their unique mix of catchy melodies and occult themes. This album's success set the stage for their ambitious follow-up, "Infestissumam," which means "the most hostile" in Latin. Released on April 10, 2013, under the Loma Vista Recordings label, the album faced delays in several countries because some American CD manufacturers refused to print the CDs due to the deluxe edition cover depicting an orgy overseen by an inverted Christ on the cross. According to the band, it was "the vision of naked female bodies" that led to the boycott. Led by Papa Emeritus II and his Nameless Ghouls, the band ventured into bolder and more complex musical territory with this album. Unlike "Opus Eponymous," which had lighter production and a rawer feel, "Infestissumam" aimed for a richer, more elaborate sound, diving even deeper into satanic and anti-Christian themes. Around the same time, Ghost faced a naming issue in the United States and had to rebrand themselves as Ghost B.C., which could mean "Because Copyright" or "Before Christ." According to the band, there was no legal threat to change the name, but their label insisted on the change to avoid potential problems. They reverted to the name Ghost in July 2015, using Ghost B.C. only for the Infestissumam era.

The recording of "Infestissumam" took place in Nashville, Tennessee, with producer Nick Raskulinecz, known for his work with Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains. The production faced unique challenges, including finding a printer willing to produce the album due to its explicitly satanic content. Eventually, the band found a printer in Poland. The band admitted they were not entirely satisfied with the album's outcome and faced pressure to complete it. Additionally, the recording location was not ideal. If you're reading this, you've probably already listened to the album. You know that the band had to use choirs for some songs like "Year Zero." The band shared the difficulties of recording in Nashville: "Then we told them what they were supposed to sing, and one of the guys almost cried, he took offense; it was really weird ... So we ended up recording the choir in Hollywood, where people have no problem with worshipping the Devil."

Here is the original tracklist of the album:

- Infestissumam

- Per Aspera Ad Inferi

- Secular Haze

- Jigolo Har Megiddo

- Ghuleh / Zombie Queen

- Year Zero

- Body And Blood

- Idolatrine

- Depth Of Satan’s Eyes

- Monstrance Clock

We exclude "La Mantra Mori," a bonus track in the deluxe edition of the American edition.

For promotion, Ghost was inventive. In December 2012, the band created a website called "secularhaze.com," which streamed snippets of "Secular Haze" with a ticking clock. From there, everything happened quickly: the next day, Ghost released the song's audio on their YouTube channel (their first YouTube video). A fewNext comes "Secular Haze." This track stands out from all the others. If you play Ghost's entire discography to an unfamiliar person, they will probably remember this track for its uniqueness. The track has a carnival theme, which was not the band's original intent. It is said that if someone dies from cold, it is apparently one of the most pleasant deaths. The closer you get to the actual point of death, the warmer you suddenly feel, and the more you accept death, it seems overwhelming and quite comfortable. The song was meant to give the impression that the listener was in a rough sea, dying from cold. It is therefore very monotonous and stormy non-stop, while at the end, the listener enters this sort of acceptance part, which is the "come, rest forever" part at the end. The lyrics, like most of these songs, deal with the presence of a force recognized as evil, with hedonistic signs indicating that we are progressing towards a darker future.