Photos: Mastodon, Opeth and Ghost at the Fillmore Auditorium, 4/23/12

By Team Backbeat Tue., Apr. 24 2012 at 12:30 PM

Categories: Last Night, Photos

Brandon Marshall

Ghost last night at the Fillmore Auditorium.

The Mastodon, Opeth and Ghost tour may be the first one in which metalheads have to ask themselves: Should I really be moshing to this? Rodney Dangerfield once famously remarked: "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" - with this sentiment in mind, last night at the Fillmore Auditorium, Denver came for a metal show and a prog rock performance broke out. That's not to say that any of the bands weren't mosh-worthy, but seriously, if you were moshing during Mastodon's "The Hunter" then you were missing the real show: The band's instrumental prowess, not to mention a deeply moving song about guitarist Brent Hinds's brother, who died of a heart attack. Each band gave fans plenty to watch on stage. Page down to see the highlights through the lens of Brandon Marshall with additional commentary from Brad Lopez.

Brandon Marshall

Papa Emetrius of Ghost last night at the Fillmore Auditorium.

GHOST

First up last night was Ghost, exactly the kind of band Christians warn their kids about. The overtly Satanic stage act is led by the mysterious Papa Emeritus, who won't disclose his real identity. The rest of the band is equally as mysterious. Papa Emeritus is a Satanic priest who croons through ballad-esque songs like "Con Clavi Con Dio" and "Elizabeth" over a backdrop of 1960s and 70s style metal. Emeritus is also the only member who shows his face. The rest of the band plays in robes with hoods drawn so you can't see their faces. Emeritus and company ended with "Ritual" and then blew Satanic kisses on a crowd who chanted "Hail Satan" as the band left.