"Hologram of Baal" is the eleventh studio album by Australian alternative rock band The Church, released in September 1998. The album marked the return of founding guitarist Peter Koppes, who had left the band in 1992 after their Priest = Aura tour. This reunion brought renewed energy to the group, and Hologram of Baal became a significant release, showcasing their evolving sound. Notably, this album was also the first produced entirely by the band, with their drummer, Tim Powles, handling recording and mixing duties.
The album title went through various iterations, with singer Steve Kilbey initially proposing more provocative options, such as Bastard Universe and Hologram of Allah. Due to concerns about potential controversy, the name was eventually changed to Hologram of Baal, referencing a deity from the Canaanite pantheon, while Bastard Universe was used for the bonus disc included with early pressings.
The bonus disc, Bastard Universe, contained a 79-minute instrumental improvisation divided into six "stages," though the U.S. and U.K. pressings only listed four stages, despite containing the full set. The album's artwork also underwent changes depending on the region, with the original Australian cover featuring a green holographic image of a primitive mask, while the U.S. and U.K. versions opted for a more subdued reddish-brown design.
One notable track on the album, "This Is It," was written as a tribute to INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, who had died the previous year. The band's U.S. tour in 1999 was marked by a significant event when Kilbey was arrested in New York for attempting to purchase heroin. Following his sentencing to community service, the band performed without Kilbey at the Bowery Ballroom, with guitarist Marty Willson-Piper stepping in as lead vocalist. A bootleg recording of this show, titled Steveless in New York City, circulates among fans.
