Last year got off to a rocky start for Ghost when the mastermind behind the group, Tobias Forge, was sued by his former bandmates for unpaid compensation. Many months removed from the proceedings, the frontman now has a more pragmatic outlook on how the situation unfolded and how it helped him grow.

“All things considered, a year down the line, having been through so much turmoil, I’ve come to realize that what happened needed to happen," Forge tells NME in a new interview. "Also, I’m a big fan of rock, of rock history, and I’ve read every classic rock biography of every band I’m a fan of. You know what? The same shit takes place in every single one. A friend of mine, a very successful songwriter, said to me, ‘You’re not really in the game until you’ve been sued, so welcome in!’ I think he’s got a point. I’ve been in lots of situations in my life where I’ve managed to turn pain into growing pains. Really, what happened was a receipt that things are going well.”

Forge, who performs as the persona Cardinal Copia in the latest iteration of Ghost, is getting set for the release of the band's fourth album, Prequelle, which comes out on June 1. Last week, the Swedish outfit released a star-studded video for their new song, "Dance Macabre," where a host of rock and metal stars are shown reacting to the track.

Currently, Ghost are on the road previewing songs from the new album. Go to this location to see if they're coming to a town near you.

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