Last week Ghost revealed their new vocalist, Papa V Perpetua . In addition, the band announced their new album Skeletá and the single “Satanized”. Regarding the new song, the group defined it as “a demonic story of possession that has never sounded so sweet”. Despite the controversies, the new Papa's name is inspired by a Christian martyr.
The connection between the new Pope's name and the album and Ghost's new era is still unclear. This first revealed song doesn't seem to have a connection to the new name, but perhaps it will have a clever use of inversion for which Ghost is known. While the song tells the story of a demonic possession that leaves the narrator completely demonized, the name portrays the death and suffering that Perpetua went through for maintaining her faith.
The life and death of Vibia Perpetua
Around the year 203, the Roman emperor Septimius Severus issued a decree prohibiting conversion to Christianity or Judaism. Thus, Perpetua, Felicity, and others became martyrs for refusing to renounce their faith. This is recorded in an account that describes their suffering and death.
The story of Perpetua is told in the first person, and describes how she refused to deny her beliefs. Shortly after her baptism, she was arrested; she was pregnant and gave birth in prison. Because of all the ordeal she endured, she was not even able to breastfeed her child.
During her time in prison, she reported a vision of a ladder guarded by a serpent, but that she was able to climb it and reach a garden. In this place, it was revealed that she and her colleagues would suffer for their faith.
Finally, at only 21 years old, Perpetua was tortured and killed. The following passage recounts what she suffered: “But Perpetua, to taste the pain, was pierced between the bones and screamed; and when the swordsman's hand still wandered (for he was a novice), she placed it on her own neck. Perhaps such a large woman could not have been killed in any other way (being feared by the unclean spirit) if she herself did not want it.”
Now it remains to be seen how Ghost will use this story in their new album, which marks the beginning of a new era for the band.
READ ALSO : Ghost announces new album 'Skeletá' and releases music video for “Satanized” featuring Pope Francis.
