Seven Inches of Satanic Panic

Seven Inches of Satanic Panic is a release by the Swedish rock band Ghost. First released digitally on 13 September 2019 by Loma Vista Recordings, it features the songs "Kiss the Go-Goat" and "Mary on a Cross", written by vocalist Tobias Forge along with songwriters Salem al Fakir and Vincent Pontare. It was later released on 7" vinyl. Seven Inches of Satanic Panic has been described as a two-track EP and as a single.

Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
EP / single by
Ghost
Released13 September 2019
StudioPark Studio, Stockholm
Genre
Length7:27
LabelLoma Vista
ProducerGene Walker
Ghost chronology
Prequelle
(2018)		 Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
(2019)		 Impera
(2022)

Background and themes

According to Ghost's fictional backstory, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic contains two songs that were written and recorded by an early incarnation of the band in 1969, when Papa Emeritus Nihil was the vocalist.[4][5] The 7" vinyl release claims to be remastered versions of songs recorded in 1969 at Thorn Industrial Audio Recording Studios, Hollywood.

According to Kelsey Chapstick of Revolver, "Kiss the Go-Goat" explores the favorite theme of Tobias Forge, leader of Ghost and the musician behind their Papa Emeritus character; "Lucifer, and the joy of giving yourself over to him."[5]

Paul Travers of Metal Hammer described the ambiguous lyrics of "Mary on a Cross" as a "provocative mash-up of Biblical and sexual imagery."[6] Forge has been hesitant to explain the meaning behind the song, but admits there are multiple layers to the lyrics; "The chorus is written very tongue in cheek of course. 'Go down' doesn't necessarily mean as in a 69 sense of the word... it can also mean go down as in go down in history, your own ascent. Mary doesn't necessarily mean Mary, mother of Jesus. It might mean Mary Magdalene, the proclaimed whore who might have been the wife of Jesus – just as a symbol for someone who came off as one thing but actually had other intentions and did something else. Someone who's miscredited." He went on to state that the song was "more about friendship and how, together with someone else, you might have been something at one point and then you ended up just not being like that."[6]

Release

On 12 September 2019, Ghost released a music video for "Kiss the Go-Goat", which depicts Papa Nihil performing as frontman of the band at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California, in 1969.[7][8] The following day, on 13 September 2019, Seven Inches of Satanic Panic was released on music streaming services through Loma Vista Recordings.[9] It was released on 7" vinyl, with "Kiss the Go-Goat" as the A-side and "Mary on a Cross" as the B-side,[9] on 27 September 2019.[8] Seven Inches of Satanic Panic has been described as a two-track EP[8] and as a single.[5] The vinyl release peaked at number 2 on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart,[10] whilst "Kiss the Go-Goat" reached number 4 on the Kerrang! Rock Chart.[11]

In July and August 2022, "Mary on a Cross" went viral on TikTok.[12][13] In response, Ghost released a "Slowed + Reverb" version of the song digitally on 26 August.[14] The original recording then became the band's first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 when it reached number 90 in September.[15] An official "lyric video" for the song was released on 14 December. Similar to the video for "Kiss the Go-Goat", it features grainy, Super 8-like footage that is purported to be of Ghost performing in Los Angeles on 13 September 1969.[16]

Track listing

All writing credited to Papa Emeritus Nihil and A Group of Nameless Ghouls.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kiss the Go-Goat"Tobias Forge, Salem Al Fakir, Vincent Pontare3:19
2."Mary on a Cross"Forge, Al Fakir, Pontare4:08
Total length:7:27

Personnel

Ghost

Charts

"Mary on a Cross"

Certifications
Certifications for "Mary on a Cross"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Gold 40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[43] Platinum 50,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Kaufman, Spencer (13 September 2019). "Ghost unveil new song "Mary on a Cross": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  2. Munro, Scott (13 September 2019). "Ghost release new single Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic". Metal Hammer. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  3. Grech, Aaron (12 September 2019). "Ghost Announces September 2019 Release of "Lost" '60s Era 7″ Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Featuring Songs "Kiss the Go Goat" and "Mary on A Cross"". MXDWN.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  4. Rosenberg, Axl (12 September 2019). "Officially Official: Ghost Release Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Vinyl". MetalSucks. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  5. Chapstick, Kelsey (12 September 2019). "Hear Ghost Get Groovy on Poppy, Fun New Song "Kiss the Go-Goat"". Revolver. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  6. Travers, Paul (19 December 2022). "The true meaning behind Ghost's Mary On A Cross". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  7. "Ghost Releases New Song Kiss The Go-Goat". Kerrang!. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. "Listen To Ghost's New EP, Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic". Kerrang!. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. "Ghost - Seven Inches of Satanic Panic Limited Edition 7". Loma Vista Recordings. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. "Official Vinyl Singles Chart". 4 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  11. Kerrang! Rock Chart, Kerrang!, issue 1793, page 15, Cover date: 5 October 2019.
  12. Daly, Rhian (19 August 2022). "Ghost's 'Mary On A Cross' Goes Viral On TikTok, Experiences Surge In Streams". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  13. Alleva, Dan (19 August 2022). "Ghost Goes Viral On TikTok And, Naturally, Fan Reaction Is Mixed". Metal Injection. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  14. Schube, Will (29 August 2022). "Ghost Share 'Slowed + Reverb' Version Of Viral Smash 'Mary On A Cross'". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  15. Schaffner, Lauryn (20 September 2022). "Ghost Just Earned Their First Song on Billboard's Hot 100 Song Chart". Loudwire. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  16. Childers, Chad (14 December 2022). "Ghost Debut Video for 3-Year-Old Song After It Goes Viral on the Internet". Loudwire. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  17. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 5 September 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1696. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 20, 2022. p. 4.
  18. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  19. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 – Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202235 into search. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  21. "Ghost: Mary on a Cross" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  22. "Top Singles (Week 37, 2022)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  23. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  24. "Billboard Global 200 – Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  25. "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  27. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  28. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ghost". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  29. "2022 36-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  30. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  31. "VG-lista – Singel 2022 uke 37". VG-lista. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  32. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  33. "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202236 into search. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  34. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  35. "Ghost – Mary on a Cross". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  37. "Hot 100: Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  38. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  39. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  40. "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  41. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  42. "Canadian single certifications – Ghost – Mary on a Cross". Music Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  43. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 June 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Mary on a Cross in the search box.
  44. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Ghost; 'Mary on a Cross')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  45. "British single certifications – Ghost – Mary on a Cross". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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