Recommended tracks: “Peacefield,” “Guiding Lights,” “Cenotaph”
Artists you may like: KISS, Van Halen, Depeche Mode
Three years after the release of their album Impera, Ghost has released their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Skeletá. It was heralded by the reveal of the newest frontman of their “clergy,” Perpetua or Papa V on March 5th, along the release of their first single from the album, “Satanized.” The album as a whole is an incredibly ambitious and exciting project with heavy inspiration from 80s metal and rock music. With heavy riffs and dark imagery, this album is sure to be a hit amongst listeners across generations.
“Peacefield” opens Skeletá with a soft choir that feeds into an upbeat riff similar to that of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses and “Separate Ways” by Journey. This gives listeners a sneak peek into the 80s-inspired themes present throughout the album. It’s the kind of song that sings like a true rock-and-roll anthem, almost meant to uplift listeners. The lyrics “This is what dreams are made of / This is what they’re afraid of” and “When they finally reach you / You will have to see through / The darkest season” feel as though you are being told that everything will be okay in the end—an important lesson for when things seem to going wrong in every possible way.
Right in the middle of the album is “Cenotaph,” Latin for “empty tomb.” The lyrics are subtly dreary, with an upbeat tune and guitar solos. It discusses the death of a loved one, someone who may be gone but is still with you wherever you go, with the lyrics, “Through the sensations, on through the storms / Like you used to be / Wherever I go, you’re always there / Riding next to me.” It’s a rather morose yet bittersweet track that still makes you want to get up and dance, in very typical Ghost fashion.
Skeletá leaves listeners pondering the inevitable with the closing track, “Excelsis.” Similar to other Ghost songs, like “Life Eternal” from Prequelle, it is a grand discussion of death and morality. The lyrics are haunting yet comforting in a way, as the song closes with “This is the end of the avenue / I am afraid of eternity, too.” With a solo similar to Ghost’s “Respite On The Spitalfields,” it is sure to leave listeners misty-eyed and ready to listen through again.
Ghost has solidified itself as a powerhouse in the rock and metal music community, and their latest offering, or psalm, has proven that. It is far more somber and introspective than earlier albums, but a hit nonetheless. Skeletá is grand, theatrical, and over-the-top, which is exactly what the band is at heart.
Stream Skeletá and be sure to get tickets for the Skeletour, which will be haunting the states starting July 9th as soon as they finish their European run. Tickets to all remaining dates are available here.
World Tour 2025 Dates:
4/29 – Lisbon, PT – MEO Arena
4/30 – Madrid, ES – Palacio Vistalegre
5/3 – Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion Zürich
5/4 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum
5/7 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena
5/8 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
5/10 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena
5/11 – Prague, CZ – O2 Arena
5/13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
5/14 – Oberhausen, DE – Rudolf Weber-ARENA
5/15 – Hannover, DE – ZAG Arena
5/17 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
5/20 – Tampere, FI – Nokia Arena
5/22 – Linköping, SE – Saab Arena
5/23 – Sandviken, SE – Göransson Arena
5/24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum
7/9 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
7/11 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
7/12 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
7/13 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
7/15 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
7/17 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
7/18 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
7/19 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
7/21 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
7/22 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
7/24 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
7/25 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
7/26 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
7/28 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
7/29 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
7/30 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
8/1 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
8/2 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
8/3 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
8/5 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
8/7 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
8/9 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
8/10 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
8/11 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
8/14 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
8/15 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
8/16 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
9/24 – Mexico City, MX – Palacio de los Deportes
