Buttkickin' Halloween Songs: "Square Hammer" -- Ghost (2016)

Hiding from the light
Sacrificing nothing
Still you call on me for entrance to the shrine
Hammering the nails
Into a sacred coffin
You call on me for powers clandestine…

Aye, if Worshipful Masters of the past and present could only see me now…

Not that I have ever delved too deeply into my personal life, or even much at all, but I’m a third-generation Freemason, raised 22 years ago this December. The symbols, iconography, historical and biblical allegories, all of it comes together as part of the proud history of a service organization that hails back for centuries.

The same organization, of course, been accused of things like, oh I dunno, witchcraft, world domination, mind control, SATANISM… a virtual Pu-Pu Paranoia Platter, or a Tin Foil Hat Charcuterie Board if you’re so inclined.

Which brings us to Ghost and their 2016 track Square Hammer, tonight’s entry into our Buttkickin’ Halloween Songs list.

The song is an infectious slice of power pop meets melodic metal, with hooky riffs and breezy 80s keyboards aplenty. it also has an overarching sense of doom and gloom that contrasts against the upbeat melodic accompaniment, as the song appears to be about welcoming an Initiate into the Service of Satan.

SATAN!

I mean you don’t have to be the eternal spirit of the Widow’s Son to figure out the clear analogy to Masonic ritual: the song specifically refers to entering the shrine, swearing fealty into a rite, and of course references to the square and level, stonemasons tools used in extensively Masonic iconography.

So naturally Tobias Forge and company used this imagery to craft a tale detailing a very different kind of initiation altogether…

Square Hammer is one of the breeziest and most melodic rock songs you’ll ever hear about giving your deepest oath to Lord Beelzebub. Like, sure here’s my eternal soul, but can we go out rollerskating afterward? Maybe grab some wine coolers too? How ’bout a Zima?

Are you on the square?
Are you on the level?
Are you ready to swear right here, right now
Before the devil
That you’re on the square
That you’re on the level
That you’re ready to stand right here, right now
Right here, right now…