“MONTREAL ..The Hottest Band In The World… Ghost”! - The Metal Voice Show Review Jan 30, 2026
- The Metal Voice
- 46 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Ghost Show Review, Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada January 30, 2026
Review Perrin Wolfson
Photo's Jimmy Kay
Yes, that was the refrain a mysterious voice delivered seconds before the curtain dropped and Ghost, now led by Papa V Perpetua (but still Tobias Forge), launched into Peacefield, from their latest album, 2025’s Skeleta. If you’re going to lead with a nod to the godfathers of big production, Kiss, you better be ready to deliver, and deliver Ghost did!
21 semi trucks full of lighting, sound, and pyro rode into Montreal’s Bell Centre on a wickedly cold Friday night, with a healthy dose of arena rock riffs, heavy metal chords, and pop hooks packed in for good measure.
From the moment Papa V hit the stage, until two hours later under a downpour of mummy dust (confetti really), Ghost’s latest in a parade of charismatic frontmen, had the audience riveted to his every move. Having said that, Ghost is no one man show, with a backing band of Ghouls and Ghoulettes - two on guitar, two on keys, one each bass and drums, and two backing vocalists - all given more latitude than in past “rituals” to roam the stage and shine. Shine they did, as the Ghouls are not the typical backing band; all world class talents, delivering a diverse setlist with brio and bravado. Them Ghouls can play!
Speaking of the setlist, Ghost have reached the point, six albums and several EPs into their career, where putting together a two-hour set is no easy task. Yes, the standards were there, from Cirice to Rats, as were four tracks from Skeleta (Peacefield, Lachryma, Satanized, and Umbra), along with big production fan favourites (Year Zero, Mummy Dust, and Monstrance Clock, among others), as well as deep cuts not heard in several years (Spirit, Majesty, and Devil Church). The show stopping encores of Mary On A Cross, Dance Macabre, and now standard closer Square Hammer, brought the house of nearly 15,000 down.
In closing, Ghost have now fully assumed the mantle of arena rock heroes, a status that affords them the ability to deliver a “tour of the year” candidate spectacle to an ever growing throng of music fans of all demographics and backgrounds. While Tobias Forge has recently said Ghost will disappear for a while after their current tour, it’s clear the masses will be anxiously awaiting their next move, be it a new full length record, an EP - covers or otherwise, or another in a series of live shows that continue to raise the bar. On this night, “the hottest band in the world” did just that.
Set list
Peacefield
Lachryma
Spirit
Per Aspera ad Inferi
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Majesty
The Future Is a Foreign Land
Devil Church
Cirice
Darkness at the Heart of My Love
Satanized
Ritual
Umbra
Year Zero
He Is
Rats
Kiss the Go-Goat
Mummy Dust
Monstrance Clock
Encore
Mary on a Cross
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer
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