Skeletá
| Artist | Ghost |
| Released | 2025 |
| Genre | Hard rock Heavy metal |
| Length | Approx. 45 minutes |
| Label | Loma Vista Recordings |
Skeletá is the sixth studio album by Swedish rock band Ghost, released in 2025. The album continues the band’s theatrical identity while expanding on the darker atmosphere introduced in some of their earlier works. Combining hard rock melodies with heavy metal instrumentation, the record further developed the cinematic and ritualistic style that had become associated with the band.
The album is known for its heavy guitar riffs, layered production, and lyrical themes involving death, spirituality, isolation, and the supernatural. While maintaining the melodic hooks Ghost became known for during the 2010s, Skeletá adopted a colder and more ominous tone than several of the band’s previous releases.
Background
Following the commercial success of their previous albums and international tours, Ghost returned to the studio to begin work on Skeletá. Frontman Tobias Forge described the project as intentionally darker in tone, drawing inspiration from traditional heavy metal, gothic imagery, horror films, and occult-themed rock music from the 1970s and 1980s.
The album was developed during a period in which the band continued to increase its mainstream popularity while also attempting to preserve the heavier sound associated with its earlier material. According to Forge, the goal was to create a record that balanced accessible songwriting with a more unsettling atmosphere.
Recording
Recording sessions for Skeletá took place throughout 2024 and 2025. Production focused heavily on atmosphere and layering, incorporating multiple vocal tracks, distorted guitars, orchestral textures, and synthesizer elements to create a cinematic sound.
The album’s production emphasized dynamic contrast, often shifting between softer melodic passages and heavier instrumental sections. This approach contributed to the dramatic structure present throughout much of the album.
Release and Reception
Upon release, Skeletá received generally positive reviews from critics and fans. Reviewers praised the album’s darker direction, polished production, and theatrical presentation, while several publications highlighted the balance between melody and heaviness.
The album also strengthened Ghost’s reputation as one of the most commercially successful modern rock and metal bands of the 21st century. Songs from the album quickly became part of the band’s live performances during the accompanying Skeletour.