Right then… leave it to Ghost to take one of the most gloriously dramatic synth-pop songs ever written and somehow transform it into a gothic rock cathedral anthem dripping in incense, darkness, and theatrical swagger. 😤🕯️🔥
Because their version of It’s a Sin doesn’t just cover the classic Pet Shop Boys track…
It POSSESSES it. 👻⚡
And honestly?
It absolutely works.
⚡ THE PERFECT SONG FOR GHOST TO COVER
The second you think about it, It’s a Sin feels almost suspiciously perfect for Ghost.
The original already carried:
- guilt 😈
- religious imagery ⛪
- dramatic emotion 🖤
- massive hooks 🎤
- and theatrical darkness 🌙
Basically half of Ghost’s entire aesthetic wrapped inside a synth-pop masterpiece from the 80s.
So instead of awkwardly forcing the song into their style, Ghost lean into every ounce of melodrama and turn the whole thing into this enormous gothic rock spectacle.
And blimey…
it sounds HUGE.
🎸 MASSIVE ATMOSPHERE WITH THAT CLASSIC GHOST SWAGGER
Musically, the band absolutely nail the balance between respecting the original and making it unmistakably Ghost.
The synth elements remain beautifully intact, but now they sit alongside:
- towering guitars 🎸
- cinematic drums 🥁
- haunting backing vocals 👻
- and enough church-like atmosphere to make you want to dramatically walk through candlelit corridors for absolutely no reason 😅🕯️
Everything feels bigger.
Darker.
More theatrical.
Which honestly is saying something considering the original song already sounded like an emotional breakdown inside a disco cathedral.
The production is lush too — polished without losing character, modern without flattening the emotion.
Classic Ghost behaviour, really.
🎤 TOBIAS FORGE ABSOLUTELY SELLS IT
Tobias Forge delivers an incredible vocal performance here.
Instead of trying to mimic Neil Tennant’s cool detached style, he leans fully into the emotional drama of the lyrics, giving the track this almost confessional intensity beneath all the grandeur. 🖤
His voice glides beautifully through the verses before exploding into the chorus with that signature Ghost theatricality fans adore.
And fair play…
the chorus absolutely SOARS.
You can already imagine thousands of fans singing:
“IT’S A SIN!”
back at the stage while giant stained-glass visuals flash behind the band and somebody inevitably loses a shoe in the crowd. 😅🔥
👻 GHOST CONTINUE TO MASTER THE ART OF THE COVER
One thing Ghost consistently do brilliantly is choosing covers that actually fit their world.
Too many bands treat covers like novelty throwaways.
Ghost treat them like full reinterpretations.
Whether it’s:
- ABBA vibes ✨
- classic rock 🎸
- pop oddities 🌙
- or synth-driven emotional anthems ⚡
they somehow manage to filter everything through their gothic horror-rock identity without losing what made the original special in the first place.
That’s genuinely difficult to pull off.
🔥 THIS THING IS BUILT FOR ARENA SINGALONGS
You already KNOW this is going to become a massive live moment:
- thousands chanting every word 🎤
- giant lights flooding arenas ⚡
- Papa stalking the stage dramatically 😈
- fans dressed like satanic clergy losing their minds 🍻👻
There’s a weird beauty in hearing Ghost transform emotional vulnerability into gigantic theatrical rock spectacle.
That contrast is exactly what makes them so addictive.
🍺 RIFF REPORT FINAL VERDICT
Ghost’s take on It’s a Sin is dramatic, emotional, stylish as hell, and absolutely packed with gothic arena-rock magic. 👻🔥
Rather than simply recreating the original, Ghost reshape it into something darker, heavier, and wonderfully theatrical while still respecting the emotional core that made the song iconic in the first place.
Sin never sounded this catchy, mun. 😈🎸
⭐ RIFF REPORT RATING ⭐
👻 5 / 5
“Like slow dancing through a haunted cathedral disco while the apocalypse politely waits outside.” 🕯️⚡🔥
Skeletá out now: https://i.ghost-official.com/Skeleta/
Follow Ghost: Subscribe to Ghost’s YouTube: https://found.ee/Ghost_YTSubscribe
Instagram: / thebandghost
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Twitter: https://x.com/thebandghost
Facebook: / thebandghost
Site: https://ghost-official.com/#Ghost#ItsASin#OfficialAudio
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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