Ghost frontman Tobias Forge previously confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus. He is reportedly working on a secret death metal project. Multiple collaborators and industry figures have dropped hints about his next steps in recent weeks, fueling speculation about what he may be preparing next.
A post from Swedish drummer Johan Koleberg is among those hints. Koleberg revealed that he has been assisting Forge with preparations for the new venture.
“Helping out Mr. Tobias Forge to tune these fine drums for his new project for the next couple of weeks,” Koleberg wrote in the caption of his post.
Europe frontman Joey Tempest also touched on Forge’s mysterious studio activity during a recent interview, adding to the intrigue. He stopped short of confirming any details about Ghost’s status.
“I don’t know [Forge’s] Ghost plans,” Tempest said. “I know he’s sitting in his studio again and no one is allowed in … he’s doing something!”
The buzz around Forge’s studio activity comes against the backdrop of a Ghost break that he has been careful to frame in his own terms. Forge has repeatedly stressed that the pause is a normal hiatus rather than a breakup. He has also made clear that there is currently no new Ghost material or plan on the table following the conclusion of the band’s Skeletour cycle.
That tour proved to be a grueling stretch, running for roughly 70 shows across Europe and North America before wrapping up. The sheer scale of the run left Forge drained. He has been candid about needing time to recover before even considering a return to the studio for Ghost’s sake.
Forge has also made it clear that he refuses to force another Ghost album simply because fans or the industry expect one. He wants any future record to come from genuine inspiration rather than obligation, a stance that leaves the door open for him to explore other creative outlets in the meantime, including projects like the rumored death metal effort.
That appetite for exploring new creative territory extends beyond music as well. Forge has recently been linked to Mylla Films’ slate, a connection that underscores just how broadly he has been spreading his creative energy during Ghost’s downtime.
“I need to want to make a record. I need to have something to say,” Forge said, summing up the philosophy guiding his current break from Ghost. By extension, it also captures the freedom he now has to pursue side projects like the whispered-about death metal venture.
