Review: Ghost Revitalize Arena Rock On New Album ‘Skeletá'
In 2025, Ghost is more popular than they've ever been. The masked band led by songwriter and vocalist Tobias Forge, has shown time and again that their pop-sensible hard rock is meant for the masses. With their sixth studio album, Skeletá, this aspect has not changed, in fact, it's taken to even further heights as Ghost channel the best of 80s pop and hard-rock throughout their latest LP.
Influences from Journey, Iron Maiden, and fellow Swedish greats Europe reverberate through Skeletá, but not in a way that feels contrived or gimmicky. Rather, Ghost take inspiration from the instrumentation, arrangements, and production used from the decade and mix it within their own unique, often quirky songwriting. The result makes for one of the most satisfying releases in Ghost's discography, and moreover one of the best unapologetic arena-rock albums in decades.
Huge reverb coated drum, dueling guitar harmonies, and shimmering synthesizers fill much of the sonic landscape on Skeletá. However, the brilliant vocal hooks and arrangements on this album are what seal the deal for every climactic bridge and punchy chorus. Tobias Forge's vocals are sounding better than ever on Skeletá, and it's quite apparent from just the grace he sings with on many of his vocal leads.
The opening track 'Peacefield' showcases this and many of the band's 80s influences incredibly well – for fans of 80s pop-rock, the chorus in 'Peacefield' will definitely remind you of a certain Journey classic, though with noticeably weightier riffs.
When a band brandishes a particular sound or motifs from a specific decade, it can easily come across as a gimmick. Ghost simply find the magic in the many amazing aspects from 80s arena rock greats and amalgamate it within their already robust songwriting. Sure maybe 'Peacefield' is a bit on the nose with its chorus, but the majority of Skeletá proves the band knows how to channel these influences in a way that builds upon their original gothic pop-rock sound.
One of the best aspects on Skeletá is the guitar work. Between intricate shreddy guitar solos and layered harmonies, Ghost walk a fine line between technical prowess and memorable songwriting – the solo midway through 'Missilia Amori' showcases this perfectly. "Lachryma" is another great example of the pristine guitar work on Skeletá, with guitar leads echoing greats like Europe and Iron Maiden.
Furthermore, the closing track "Excelsis" might feature the best guitar moment of the band's career, having a solo with enough passion and emotion to win an Oscar. It can't be overstated just how incredible the guitar work is on Skeletá, and not just from a lead standpoint. There's surprisingly an abundance of hard-hitting heavy riffs, particularly on songs 'Missilia Amori,' "Lachryma," and lead single 'Satanized.'
Another great aspect of Skeletá that's definitely worth mentioning is the production on the album. Ghost's studio albums for the most part have sounded incredible, with the exception of maybe the band's first two LPs. However, Skeletá is without a doubt sonically the best the band has ever sounded. Each instrument has a clearly defined space in every mix allowing for every drum hit, guitar chug, and explosive chorus to flourish – the drums captured on Skeletá sound as if Metallica's Black Album 'Terminator' snare adopted a more 80s aesthetic.
While tastes may vary between which Ghost album stands tallest, Skeletá makes a strong case for being the band's best work yet. The album is by no means perfect or a soon to be modern masterpiece, rather it's a straightforward, delightful modern rock album that is uplifted by revitalized aspects of 80s pop-rock and arena metal. Fans of Ghost will find an endless number of things to enjoy about Skeletá. For fans of rock and passive fans of the band, Ghost's latest LP is one of the best rock releases of the decade and it's easily a record worth checking out.
Verdict: 8.5/10
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