Ghost, one of the most fascinating, musical, and fun Swedish metal bands to experience live, kicked off its latest tour Tuesday (4/15) in Manchester, England.

The (mostly) anonymous group of masked and made-up musicians treated the fans at AO Arena with six live debuts and a trio of songs they hadn't performed since 2019.

They also implemented a no-cameras policy which made for some humorous social media posts.

The live debuts included "Darkness at the Heart of My Love," "Lachryma," "Peacefield" (which started the show), "Satanized," "The Future Is a Foreign Land," and "Umbra."

Old favorites, "Spirit," "Majesty,"and "Monstrance Clock" hadn't been performed since before the plague.

Tuesday's ritual also debuted a new persona for frontman / mastermind Tobias Forge, who changed his stage name to a fifth incarnation.

In the 15 years of Ghost's existence, Forge has evolved in colorful and creative ways.

Papa Emeritus I (2010–2012)
The original character was introduced during the release of Opus Eponymous. He donned black and red papal robes with a white bishop-like mitre, planting the flag for Ghost's theatrical image.

Papa Emeritus II (2012–2015)
Unveiled with their sophomore album Infestissumam, this character featured more elaborate skull makeup and darker vestments, enhancing the band's occultty vibe.

Papa Emeritus III (2015–2017)
Introduced during the Meliora era, seemed less about religion and more about being young, wild, and free. A little like an undead kabuki Michael Jackson you don't really want to bring home to mother.

Cardinal Copia (2018–2020)
A brief respite from the Papa lineage, Cardinal Copia was a fresh character introduced for the Prequelle LP. Unlike his predecessors, he wore a tailored suit and mask, and a deep side part in his hair.

Papa Emeritus IV (2020–2025)
Cardinal Copia was transformed to Papa Emeritus IV during the final show of the Prequelle tour, coinciding with the release of Impera. This look was a return to the traditional Papa style with some fun twists. It lasted longer than any of his other images.

Papa V Perpetua (2025–present)
The latest look, debuting with the newest offering, Skeletá, features an even more extravagant vibe, including a metal half-mask and ornate robes.

So now that we're caught up to date, this would be the part of the blog post where videos and photos are placed within the prose so you can see and hear how this new tour sounds and looks.

But remember what we said about the no-cameras policy? On one hand, it's totally understandable. Concerts these days probably seem weird for bands when they look out in the crowd and instead of being met with eyes and faces, all they see are phones.

Likewise, fans paid top dollar to see a show, got dolled up, got in traffic, paid for parking, and then spend half the show trying to get a signal so they could upload a 15-second video? Seems like it defeats the purpose of actually being there.

So bravo to Papa and the Nameless Ghouls for reminding audiences that we go to these rituals for the experience and if you want to document a song or two, knock yourself out, but someone else probably will, who is better at you at it and has better seats.

For example, thanks to Kerrang, here's a pro shot of the gig.

Ghost will be touring around Europe playing in large arenas in support of the new album. Then they take a break before heading across to North America where they will be playing all the major cities, except, oddly, Los Angeles.

Are they saving themselves for the Weenie Roast or something? We'll investigate. Tickets available on the Ghost website.