In an interview with Rolling Stone UK , Tobias Forge , vocalist and mastermind behind Ghost , stated that he sees metal as a genre without age barriers, and that because of this, it has a friendly community.
“The community itself has undergone a really cool expansion – I don’t know what to call it – since… it depends on where you count, but let’s say hard rock really started with Black Sabbath , Deep Purple , and Led Zeppelin , and every day new bands are being formed and daily, or at least weekly, every Friday, new albums are being released in this genre. It’s a genre without ageism, where there’s everything from elderly people to little kids who like heavy metal, so it’s a very friendly community.”
“In the 80s, I think it was a bit more geared towards young people, they were calling the shots, or the young bands were calling the shots, the teenage vibe might have – I wouldn’t say “tainted,” because I love that stuff, but I understand that, from an outsider’s point of view, it might seem a bit too immature in some ways. But that’s part of it. If you don’t like blood, don’t watch boxing matches. And if you don’t like metal, don’t go to a metal show if you don’t like what it represents.”
Tobias Forge has entered a media "fast".
In the same interview, Forge also mentioned that since November 2024, he has been on a "blackout" from news and social media. The goal was to distance himself from the political themes addressed in Impera (2022), Ghost's most recent album, even though the material for Skeletá (2025) was already finished at that time.
“There’s a misconception that I wrote the album ( Skeletá ) during my isolation from the media – that’s not true. However, I did distance myself from the immediate media.”
“I needed to cleanse my soul of stupidity. To focus on what my role is as a human being and what my work is. My work as an artist is to make as many people as possible happy, motivated, and joyful. And my work as a husband and father is to take good care of my children and my family.”
“Social media has led many people to believe they can magically change the world. While it has done enormous good for many people, especially when it comes to structural change, it has also given many the false hope that their voices truly matter, regardless of anything. If they can't use that voice and it isn't heard, it's as if a right has been taken away from them.”
Ghost's new album, Skeletá , will be released on April 25th by Loma Vista Recordings .
READ ALSO: Ghost performs first show of the Skeletour World Tour
