Ghost have pulled the old switcheroo again, mun – Tobias Forge has introduced the world to Papa V Perpetua, the latest in the unholy bloodline of anti-popes fronting the Swedish occult rock juggernaut. And to mark the coronation? They’ve dropped a brand-new single that’s as blasphemously bombastic as you’d expect: “Satanized.” 🤘

This marks the fifth “Papa” incarnation since the band’s rise from the crypt, following on from Papa Emeritus I–IV and the Cardinal Copia era. Papa V Perpetua comes cloaked in dark gold and crimson, with a mask that looks like it was forged in Hell’s foundry itself. Proper job for a metal messiah, eh? 🏴

🔥 The New Single: Satanized

If you thought Ghost were getting softer with their disco-tinged Impera cuts, think again. Satanized is a thunderous hymn that blends pounding doom riffs, ABBA-level hooks (you know Tobias can’t help himself), and a choir that sounds like it was summoned straight from the fiery pits. Expect fans to be chanting this one in arenas before the year’s out.

⛪ What’s Next for the Ghost Faithful?

Rumours are flying faster than a pint glass in the Steelhouse campsite that Satanized is the first taste of a new Ghost album dropping in 2026. The tour posters already hint at “A New Black Mass” across Europe and the U.S., with Papa V Perpetua promising to be the most theatrical version yet.

Forge himself described this incarnation as “a Pope who reigns eternal, forged from both death and divinity” – which sounds lushly over the top, even by Ghost standards.

👀 Fan Reactions

  • Some are hailing Papa V as the most terrifying look yet.
  • Others are already designing tattoos of the new sigil.
  • And a few salty punters are joking that Tobias just invented “Skeletor in Gucci robes.” 😅

Either way, Ghost have once again proven they know how to keep the mystery, drama, and riffs flowing.

C’mon butt, are you ready to be Satanized live? 🎤🔥