Hologram of Baal

Hologram of Baal is a 1998 album released by The Church.

With the full time return of founding guitarist Peter Koppes, the band returned to their roots with an album of songs that recalled the atmospheric and layered guitar sounds of Heyday and Starfish.

The original title Steve Kilbey wanted was "Hologram of Allah," but this was rejected as too inflammatory, so they decided upon "Baal" after the old defunct Canaanite god.

"This is It" is about the death of INXS frontman and fellow Australian, Michael Hutchence.

It was during the subsequent tour in 1999 that frontman Steve Kilbey was arrested in New York City for attempting to purchase heroin. He was sentenced to community service by sweeping subway cars in New York City. The band performed the following night at New York's Bowery Ballroom with Marty Willson-Piper serving as lead vocalist, known on bootlegs as the "Steveless in New York City."

Track listing

1. "Anaesthesia"
2. "Ricochet"
3. "Louisiana"
4. "The Great Machine"
5. "No Certainty Attached"
6. "Tranquility"
7. "Buffalo"
8. "This is It"
9. "Another Earth"
10. "Glow-Worm"

The bonus disc, Bastard Universe was included on some pressings as a limited edition "jam" disc of six freestyle jams lasting 70+ minutes in total. Certain US and UK pressing list only four tracks, but the Australian release included all "six stages."