A Cathedral of Chaos: Ghost Deliver Their Most Explosive Toronto Show Yet
- jaybroderick
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Photos By: Michael Drukarsh Words By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Toronto didn’t just host Swedish rockers Ghost on Saturday night... it surrendered to them! By the time doors opened at Scotiabank Arena, the place was already buzzing with fans in full Ghost regalia... face paint, papal robes, ghoulish masks, and enough ghostly attire to turn the concourse into a cathedral of the damned.
With no opening act, the anticipation hit a rare intensity. At exactly 9:00 p.m., the house lights dropped and the stage, hidden behind ratty, torn curtains, glowed ominously as the first notes of "Peacefield" crept out. For what felt like an eternity, the band played behind those shredded drapes, teasing the audience with silhouettes and shadows. Then, about thirty seconds in, the curtains crashed down to reveal an elaborate multi‑level stage setup that instantly drew a roar from the arena so loud, the fans from Argentina (the next stop for the tour) heard them. Four backup singers and keyboardists stood in a semicircle on the top riser, bringing the band’s total to a massive nine performers. It was a visual feast that only a show of this magnitude could bring.
And the crowd? Absolutely explosive.
I cover shows for a living, and wearing earplugs is an absolute necessity... but not tonight! Our brilliant photojournalist Michael Drukarsh had a photo pass only for this one, so while I was in full fan mode, I took one for the team by agreeing to write the review. Your hearing is precious, but there’s something intoxicating about feeling the raw, unfiltered volume of a band like Ghost. And tonight, it was LOUD.
By the fifth track, "From the Pinnacle to the Pit", the production kicked into overdrive. Smoke blasted from the stage and billowed out into the fans on the floor, swallowing the front rows in a thick, eerie fog. The song ended with a sudden, violent CRACK of fireworks that jolted me. That’s rock and roll! Startling, theatrical, and impossible not to love.
One of the night’s biggest highlights came with "Call Me Little Sunshine". ONe of the band's nameless ghoul guitarists stepped to the front of the stage, orchestrating a full‑arena roar-off, pitting one side of Scotiabank Arena against the other in a battle of sheer volume. As the crowd reached peak frenzy, the intro rang out and Tobias Forge rose dramatically from the back of the stage in his high‑priest regalia. Elevated above the band, he performed the entire song from that lofty perch, looking every bit the supernatural figure Ghost’s mythology paints him to be.
Throughout the set, Tobias vanished and reappeared across the sprawling stage, while the guitarists sprawled across risers, lounged on steps, and prowled from end to end. The backup singers, who were phenomenal all night, lifted their bat‑like wings and delivered harmonies that were as visually striking and sonically rich. Ghost’s theatrics are never half‑measures.
Then came "Satan Prayer", staged like a descent into the underworld. The video screens churned with molten lava, the entire stage bathed in hellish red. Fire columns erupted across the platform as the song reached its climax, and the finale detonated in a massive burst of fireworks that lit up the arena. It was one of those moments where you just stand there, stunned, thinking "WOW!!" This is what it's all about!
Tobias didn’t spend much time chatting between songs, aside from the occasional “How are you, Toronto?” But before "Monstrance Clock", he paused to reflect on Ghost’s first Toronto appearance at The Mod Club fourteen years ago. Hearing him thank the crowd for helping the band rise from a tiny club to a sold‑out arena was genuinely moving. And honestly, imagine seeing Ghost at The Mod Club. It’s the perfect reminder of why it’s so important to hit small venues, catch openers, and take chances on bands you don’t know yet. You never know who you’ll witness before they ascend.
By the end of the night, Scotiabank Arena looked like it had survived a supernatural storm... smoke, confetti, fire, explosions, and thousands of fans who had given every ounce of their energy. There’s a special magic in seeing a band tear up a small venue, but there’s nothing quite like the spectacle of a massive stage show firing on all cylinders. Ghost delivered a masterclass in theatrical rock, blending musicianship, storytelling, and pure sensory overload.
Set List
Peacefield
Lachryma
Spirit
Per Aspera ad Inferi
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Call Me Little Sunshine
The Future Is a Foreign Land
Devil Church
Cirice
Darkness at the Heart of My Love
Satanized
Satan Prayer
Umbra
Year Zero
He Is
Rats
Kiss the Go-Goat
Mummy Dust
Monstrance Clock
Encore:
Mary on a Cross
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer
This was undoubtedly one of the best shows I’ve seen in a very, very long time.
Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by: Michael Drukarsh)
Ghost Online
Show Date: January 31, 2026